--- title: "Same-colored bishops in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/same-colored-bishops.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/same-colored-bishops" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "Same-colored bishops are bishops that move on the same shade of squares, so they can challenge, exchange and defend against each other." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opposite-colored-bishops.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/good-bishop.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bad-bishop.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/minor-piece-endgame.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-versus-knight-endgame.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-and-pawn-endgame.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/endgames.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Same-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. Same-colored bishops are bishops that move on the same shade of squares, so they can challenge, exchange and defend against each other. 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. With [bishops](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) on the same color, the position behaves like a normal [endgame](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/endgame.md). Either bishop can attack the other, so a trade is always possible, and the side with the better pawns or the more [active king](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-activity.md) can force matters. That makes the ending richer and less drawish than its opposite-colored cousin. The side that is ahead can often force the bishops off, because a king and pawn ending a pawn up is frequently winning, so the defender has to check that pawn ending before allowing any trade. Ask which pawns stand on the bishops' color, because pawns on that shade are protected by their own bishop but attacked by the enemy one. Pawns on the other shade cannot be hit by the enemy bishop at all. A frequent [mistake](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mistake.md) is to rush the trade of bishops without calculating the resulting king and pawn ending. Another is to leave the bishop passive behind pawns on its own color. A [good bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/good-bishop.md) here is the one that has open [diagonals](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/diagonal.md) and cannot be driven back. ## Example position White to move. Both bishops are light-squared and attack each other. White is a pawn up with an outside passed a-pawn, so Bxe6 Kxe6 leads to a won king and pawn ending, a choice that does not exist with opposite colors. Position (FEN): `8/8/4bk2/6p1/P1B5/4K1P1/8/8 w - - 0 1` It sits close to [Bishop versus knight endgame](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-versus-knight-endgame.md). 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. 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. Compare it with [Opposite-colored bishops](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opposite-colored-bishops.md). 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. If "Same-colored bishops" 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 - [Opposite-colored bishops](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opposite-colored-bishops.md) - [Good bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/good-bishop.md) - [Bad bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bad-bishop.md) - [Minor piece endgame](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/minor-piece-endgame.md) - [Bishop versus knight endgame](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-versus-knight-endgame.md) - [King and pawn endgame](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-and-pawn-endgame.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 - [Opposite-colored bishops in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opposite-colored-bishops.md) - [Good bishop in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/good-bishop.md) - [Bad bishop in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bad-bishop.md) - [Minor piece endgame in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/minor-piece-endgame.md) - [Bishop versus knight endgame in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-versus-knight-endgame.md) - [King and pawn endgame in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-and-pawn-endgame.md) - [Chess terms: Endgames](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/endgames.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)