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Ponderchess / Glossary

Fianchetto in chess

A fianchetto is the development of a bishop to b2, g2, b7 or g7 after the knight's pawn has moved one square. From there the bishop works along the long diagonal through the centre and helps guard its own king.

White to move after 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6. Both sides have moved the knight's pawn one square to make room for the bishop. After Bg2 Bg7 and castling, White's bishop looks down the h1-a8 diagonal and Black's down the h8-a1 diagonal, each aimed through the centre while also covering squares beside its own king.3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O O-O

How a fianchetto is set up

The word comes from the Italian for "little flank". On the kingside, White plays g3 and Bg2, usually with Nf3 and castling, so the bishop stands on the h1-a8 diagonal. On the queenside, b3 and Bb2 put it on the a1-h8 diagonal. Black's equivalents are ...g6 with ...Bg7, and ...b6 with ...Bb7.

Many openings are built around it. Kingside fianchettoes appear in the King's Indian Defence, the Grünfeld, the Catalan, the English, the Réti, the Dragon Sicilian and the Pirc. Queenside fianchettoes appear in the Queen's Indian and in set-ups with b3 for White. Using both bishops this way is a double fianchetto.

Strengths

A fianchettoed bishop controls the longest diagonals on the board, aimed at the centre and beyond it at the opponent's queenside or king. It suits the hypermodern idea of influencing the centre from a distance instead of occupying it with pawns.

On the kingside it also strengthens the castled position. The bishop on g2 covers f3 and h3, the squares weakened by g3.

Weaknesses

The pawn move leaves holes. After g3, the squares f3 and h3 are no longer covered by pawns, and if the fianchettoed bishop is exchanged, the squares of its colour around the king can become serious weaknesses: the light squares for a bishop on g2, the dark squares for a bishop on g7. This is why attacking set-ups against the Dragon and the King's Indian often aim to trade the g7-bishop with Be3, Qd2 and Bh6.

A fianchettoed bishop is also only as good as its diagonal. If pawns block it, as Black's own pawn on e5 does to the g7-bishop in many King's Indian structures, it can be left with little to do.

Common mistakes

  • Exchanging a fianchettoed bishop without need, which leaves holes around your own king.
  • Blocking the bishop's diagonal with your own pawns, so it becomes a defensive piece only.
  • Advancing the pawns around a fianchettoed king without reason, which weakens it further.

Questions about fianchetto

What does fianchetto mean?

It is Italian for "little flank". In chess it means developing a bishop to the long diagonal from b2, g2, b7 or g7.

Which openings use a fianchetto?

Among many others, the King's Indian, the Grünfeld, the Dragon Sicilian, the Pirc, the Catalan, the English, the Réti and the Queen's Indian.

Is a fianchetto good for beginners?

Yes. It is a simple, solid way to develop and castle, but you need to know which squares it weakens and avoid giving up the fianchettoed bishop lightly.