--- title: "Bishop versus knight endgame in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-versus-knight-endgame.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-versus-knight-endgame" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "A bishop versus knight endgame is an ending in which one side keeps a bishop and the other a knight, usually with pawns." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight-versus-bishop.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/good-bishop.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bad-bishop.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight-endgame.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/minor-piece-endgame.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/outpost.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/endgames.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Bishop versus knight endgame in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. A bishop versus knight endgame is an ending in which one side keeps a bishop and the other a knight, usually with pawns. A bishop versus knight endgame is an ending in which one side keeps a bishop and the other a knight, usually with pawns, where the bishop tends to shine in open positions and the knight in closed ones. Few endings show the difference between the two minor pieces as clearly as this one. The [bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) is a long-range piece that can hit both wings in a single move, so it is strongest when pawns are spread across the board. It also controls [squares](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/square.md) of only one color, which is its weakness: the enemy king and pawns can sit on the other color and be safe from it. The [knight](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) is slow, since it needs several moves to cross the board, but it can reach squares of either color, so no pawn is safe from it just by standing on a particular color. Knights love blocked pawn structures and [outposts](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/outpost.md), while bishops want open lines and targets on the color they travel on. When you are the side with the bishop, keep pawns on both wings and aim to create a [passed pawn](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/passed-pawn.md) far from the knight. When you hold the knight, try to fix the enemy pawns on the bishop's color, keep your own pawns on the other color and keep your king central. A common [mistake](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mistake.md) is trading down into a pawn ending without checking whether the bishop's reach was the very thing keeping you in the game. Count the pawns on each wing before simplifying. ## Example position White to move. Pawns remain on both wings, which suits the bishop: from d3 it already eyes the g6 pawn, while the knight on e6 has to work its way across the board by short hops. Position (FEN): `8/p4k2/4n1p1/7p/P6P/3B2P1/5K2/8 w - - 0 1` A neighboring idea is [Knight endgame](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight-endgame.md). A knight endgame is an ending in which each side has a knight and pawns, where king activity and the pawn count usually decide the result, and where the slow, short-range knight makes the plan harder than in a bishop ending. Also worth reading is [Knight versus bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight-versus-bishop.md). Knight versus bishop describes positions where one side has a knight and the other a bishop; the better piece depends on the pawn structure, favoring the bishop in open play and the knight in closed positions. It sits close to [Minor piece endgame](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/minor-piece-endgame.md). A minor piece endgame is an ending in which each side has only bishops or knights besides the kings and pawns, so the fight turns on piece activity, pawn structure and king position rather than on heavy pieces. If "Bishop versus knight endgame" has cost you half a point, a [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md) is a good place to find the pattern behind it: George Li goes through your games and builds a plan. ## Related terms - [Knight versus bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight-versus-bishop.md) - [Good bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/good-bishop.md) - [Bad bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bad-bishop.md) - [Knight endgame](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight-endgame.md) - [Minor piece endgame](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/minor-piece-endgame.md) - [Outpost](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/outpost.md) ## Guides that go further - [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid. - [How much does chess coaching cost?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each. - [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li. [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Knight versus bishop in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight-versus-bishop.md) - [Good bishop in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/good-bishop.md) - [Bad bishop in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bad-bishop.md) - [Knight endgame in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight-endgame.md) - [Minor piece endgame in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/minor-piece-endgame.md) - [Outpost in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/outpost.md) - [Chess terms: Endgames](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/endgames.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)