How the bishop moves
A bishop travels along a diagonal as far as it likes, in any of the four diagonal directions. It cannot jump: the first piece on its path stops it. On an empty board, a bishop in the centre controls thirteen squares.
Every square on a diagonal has the same colour, so a bishop that starts on a light square stays on light squares forever. Each side starts with one light-squared and one dark-squared bishop, which between them cover the whole board.
How the bishop captures
A bishop captures the first enemy piece on one of its diagonals by moving onto its square. It cannot capture a piece hidden behind another piece, although it can pin or skewer along that line.
How to use your bishops well
Bishops love open positions with long, clear diagonals. Developing a bishop to c4 or b5, or fianchettoing it on g2 or b2 to look down the long diagonal, are common ways to put it to work early.
Watch your pawns. A bishop hemmed in by its own pawns on its colour is called a bad bishop; one whose pawns sit on the other colour is a good bishop. Keeping both bishops, the bishop pair, is a recognised advantage in open positions, because together they control both colours.
Common mistakes
- Locking your bishop in behind your own pawns, so it has no open diagonal.
- Trading off your good bishop and keeping the bad one.
- Forgetting a bishop can never reach the other colour, so it cannot help attack or defend those squares.
Questions about the bishop
Can a bishop change colour?
No. A bishop only moves diagonally, and diagonals keep the same colour, so it stays on its starting colour all game.
Can a bishop move backwards?
Yes. A bishop moves diagonally in all four directions, forward and backward.
Can a bishop jump over pieces?
No. Any piece on its diagonal blocks it. Only the knight can jump.
Practise every piece on a live board in the rules of chess.