--- title: "Bishop in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "The bishop moves any number of squares along a diagonal, as long as no piece stands in the way, so each bishop stays on one color of square for the entire game." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rook.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/disambiguation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-value.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/rules-notation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Bishop 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. The bishop moves any number of squares along a diagonal, as long as no piece stands in the way, so each bishop stays on one color of square for the entire game. The bishop moves any number of squares along a diagonal, as long as no piece stands in the way, so each bishop stays on one color of square for the entire game. Each side starts with [two bishops](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-pair.md), one for the light [squares](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/square.md) and one for the dark. Because a bishop only ever moves diagonally, it never leaves the color of the square it starts on. Together the pair covers the whole board, which is why having both bishops against a bishop and a [knight](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) is often an advantage in open positions. A bishop cannot jump over pieces, so its power depends on open [diagonals](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/diagonal.md). It is a long-range piece that likes pawns fixed on the opposite color from itself. A bishop hemmed in by its own pawns is sometimes called a [bad bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bad-bishop.md), and plans to trade or reposition it are a common middlegame theme. In endings, [opposite-colored bishops](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opposite-colored-bishops.md) often draw even when one side is a pawn or two ahead, because each bishop can never attack the other's squares. In notation the bishop is B. The bishop's value is conventionally rated about three pawns, roughly equal to a knight. When you study a position, always note which color squares your bishops control and which squares your opponent's pieces can use against you. A neighboring idea is [Chess pieces](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece.md). Chess pieces are the sixteen units each side starts with: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights and eight pawns; in everyday speech, though, piece usually means everything except the pawns. A neighboring idea is [Queen](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/queen.md). The queen moves any number of squares along a rank, file or diagonal, provided the path is clear, which makes her the most powerful piece on the board. Also worth reading is [Rook](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rook.md). The rook moves any number of squares along its rank or file, provided the path is clear, and it takes part in castling alongside the king. Knowing "Bishop" is the easy part; what to practice next depends on your rating, and the [improvement plans by rating band](https://georgelichess.com/improve.md) list the habits worth building at each level. ## Related terms - [Knight](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) - [Chess pieces](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece.md) - [Pawn](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn.md) - [Rook](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rook.md) - [Disambiguation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/disambiguation.md) - [Piece value](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-value.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. ## Sources - FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023) (Article 3.2), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023 - FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023) (Article 3.5), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023 - FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023) (Appendix C.2), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023 [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 in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) - [Chess pieces](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece.md) - [Pawn in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn.md) - [Rook in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rook.md) - [Disambiguation in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/disambiguation.md) - [Piece value in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-value.md) - [Chess terms: Rules, notation and equipment](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/rules-notation.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)