--- title: "Good bishop in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/good-bishop.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/good-bishop" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "A good bishop is one whose own pawns mainly stand on the other color from the squares it travels on, so its diagonals stay open and it can reach the enemy camp." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bad-bishop.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight-versus-bishop.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-pair.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/color-complex.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-activity.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/strategy.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Good 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. A good bishop is one whose own pawns mainly stand on the other color from the squares it travels on, so its diagonals stay open and it can reach the enemy camp. A good bishop is one whose own pawns mainly stand on the other color from the squares it travels on, so its diagonals stay open and it can reach the enemy camp. Judging a [bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) means looking at its own pawns, not at the bishop alone. A bishop moves on one color only. When most of your pawns stand on the other color, nothing of yours blocks its path: it can sweep along long [diagonals](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/diagonal.md), switch wings in one move and guard pawns from a distance. To spot one, test its range. Does it see [squares](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/square.md) in the enemy half of the board? Is it free of the [pawn chain](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn-chain.md)? A familiar case is the light-squared bishop that Black develops outside the pawn chain in the Caro-Kann Defense before the pawns close in. Holding a good bishop gives you a plan. Keep your pawns off its color when you can, and aim the bishop at weaknesses on that color. The opposing bishop of the same color is its natural rival, so if the other side has a bad one, think twice before trading yours, since it may be the source of your whole edge. A simple test: put a finger on each of your pawns, note the color of its square, and count. The bishop that travels on the color with fewer pawns is your good bishop. ## Example position White's six pawns on b2, c3, d4, f4, g3 and h2 all stand on dark squares, so the light-squared bishop on d3 is not blocked by them. It looks along the diagonal toward g6 and the queenside. Position (FEN): `2r3k1/p2n1p1p/1p2p1p1/8/3P1P2/2PB2P1/1P5P/2R3K1 w - - 0 1` Compare it with [Caro-Kann structure](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/caro-kann-structure.md). The solid Black setup with pawns on c6 and d5 against White's e4 pawn, often leading to a healthy pawn formation where Black can develop the light-squared bishop outside the chain. A neighboring idea 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. Compare it with [Color complex](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/color-complex.md). A color complex is a group of squares of one color around a king or pawn structure that turns weak when the defender has traded the bishop that guards them and left pawns on the opposite color. Strategic ideas such as "Good bishop" show up in your games as small decisions, move after move. A [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md) with George Li reviews those decisions and turns them into a study plan. ## Related terms - [Bad bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bad-bishop.md) - [Bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) - [Knight versus bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight-versus-bishop.md) - [Bishop pair](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-pair.md) - [Color complex](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/color-complex.md) - [Piece activity](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-activity.md) ## Openings where it occurs - [Caro kann defense](https://georgelichess.com/chess-opening-statistics/caro-kann-defense.md) - [French defense](https://georgelichess.com/chess-opening-statistics/french-defense.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 - [Bad bishop in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bad-bishop.md) - [Bishop in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) - [Knight versus bishop in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight-versus-bishop.md) - [Bishop pair in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-pair.md) - [Color complex in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/color-complex.md) - [Piece activity in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-activity.md) - [Chess terms: Strategy](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/strategy.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)