--- title: "Opposite-colored bishops in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opposite-colored-bishops.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opposite-colored-bishops" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "Opposite-colored bishops are bishops that run on different shades of squares, so neither side can attack or exchange the other's bishop." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/same-colored-bishops.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/minor-piece-endgame.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fortress.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/theoretical-draw.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/color-complex.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/good-bishop.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/endgames.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Opposite-colored bishops 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. Opposite-colored bishops are bishops that run on different shades of squares, so neither side can attack or exchange the other's bishop. Opposite-colored bishops are bishops that run on different shades of squares, so neither side can attack or exchange the other's bishop, which makes endings with them notoriously drawish even when one side is a pawn or two ahead. When each side has one [bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) and they travel on different colors, the bishops can never meet. That single fact reshapes the ending. The defender sets up a [blockade](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/blockade.md) with the king and bishop on [squares](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/square.md) of the bishop's own color, which the attacking bishop can never challenge, and this often holds a draw even a pawn or two down. To win, the attacker usually needs [passed pawns](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/passed-pawn.md) far enough apart that the king and bishop cannot stop both. This is why strong players with an extra pawn often avoid trading into this structure. In the middlegame the same bishops tend to help the attacker instead, because each bishop works alone on its own color and the defender has no bishop to cover the squares the attacker's bishop controls. A common [mistake](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mistake.md) is to assume the extra pawn is enough and trade everything else off, which only brings the draw closer. Another is to ignore the [fortress](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fortress.md): put your pawns on the color of your own bishop so it protects them, and keep the king in front of the enemy pawns. Also called: opposite-color bishops. ## Example position White to move. White is two pawns up, but the bishops run on different colors, and Black's king and dark-squared bishop are close enough to stop the pawns, so the position is a draw. Position (FEN): `8/7k/3b4/8/2B3PP/4K3/8/8 w - - 0 1` Compare it with [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. A neighboring idea is [Same-colored bishops](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/same-colored-bishops.md). Same-colored bishops are bishops that move on the same shade of squares, so they can challenge, exchange and defend against each other, and an extra pawn is usually much easier to convert than with opposite colors. Also worth reading is [Two bishops checkmate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/two-bishops-checkmate.md). Two bishops checkmate is the ending in which a king and two bishops, one on light squares and one on dark squares, force mate against a lone king, usually in a corner, with the king helping. Endgame ideas like "Opposite-colored bishops" are won or lost on small details, which a coach can check in your own games. The [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md) with George Li is where that review starts. ## Related terms - [Same-colored bishops](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/same-colored-bishops.md) - [Minor piece endgame](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/minor-piece-endgame.md) - [Fortress](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fortress.md) - [Theoretical draw](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/theoretical-draw.md) - [Color complex](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/color-complex.md) - [Good bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/good-bishop.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 - [Same-colored bishops in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/same-colored-bishops.md) - [Minor piece endgame in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/minor-piece-endgame.md) - [Fortress in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fortress.md) - [Theoretical draw in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/theoretical-draw.md) - [Color complex in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/color-complex.md) - [Good bishop in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/good-bishop.md) - [Chess terms: Endgames](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/endgames.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)