The Diagonal Master
The bishop is among the most elegant chess pieces, characterized by its unique diagonal movement pattern. Originally representing an elephant's tusk in ancient chess, it later became associated with the Catholic bishop's mitre hat when chess spread to Europe, giving the piece its current name.
The bishop moves diagonally in any direction (northeast, southeast, southwest, northwest). It can move as many squares as desired in a single turn, but cannot jump over other pieces. This long-range capability makes the bishop especially dangerous in open positions.
When placed in the center of the board, a bishop can control up to 13 squares simultaneously, making it one of the most influential pieces in controlling space.
Unlike any other chess piece, the bishop is permanently bound to squares of a single color. This "color-binding" is both a strength and limitation, as each bishop can only ever access half of the board's squares. For this reason, having both bishops (known as the "bishop pair") provides a significant advantage, as they can collectively control all squares.
Historical Evolution
In the original Indian chess game (Chaturanga), the bishop's predecessor was called the "elephant" and could only move exactly two squares diagonally, jumping over the first square. The modern bishop's unlimited diagonal movement emerged in the 15th century in Europe.
The Bishop Pair Advantage
Having both bishops (the "bishop pair") is generally considered an advantage equal to approximately half a pawn. In open positions with pawns on both sides of the board, the bishop pair can dominate a knight pair or knight-bishop combination.
Strategic Considerations
Understanding when bishops excel and when they struggle is key to maximizing their potential:
When Bishops Excel
- Open positions with few pawns
- When controlling long diagonals
- When working in pairs (bishop pair advantage)
- Endgames with pawns on both sides
- When fianchettoed (developed to b2/g2 or b7/g7)
- When attacking from a distance
When Bishops Struggle
- Closed positions with blocked pawn chains
- When trapped behind friendly pawns of the same color ("bad bishop")
- Against strong knight outposts
- When facing coordinated enemy pawns on the bishop's color
- Corner positions with limited diagonal access
Tactical Power
Bishops can deliver devastating tactical blows:
- The Greek Gift Sacrifice: A bishop sacrifices itself on h7/h2 (Bxh7+/Bxh2+), followed by a knight check (Ng5+/Ng4+), exposing the enemy king and launching a powerful attack.
- The "Sniper" Bishop: A bishop positioned on a long diagonal (like a1-h8) can attack key squares from a distance, often becoming the foundation of powerful attacks.
- Bishop and Knight Checkmate: One of the trickiest basic checkmates, requiring precise coordination to force the enemy king to a corner of the bishop's color.
- Two Bishops Checkmate: Two bishops working together can easily force checkmate against a lone king by creating a diagonal prison.
Did You Know?
A well-developed bishop can be worth more than its standard 3-point value. In some positions, a powerful bishop on an open diagonal can match the strength of a rook (valued at 5 points)! Conversely, a "bad bishop" trapped behind its own pawns might be worth little more than a pawn.