Beginner

4. The Bishop

Learn how bishops move diagonally and why the bishop pair is powerful.

Introduction

Each side starts with two bishops—one on light squares, one on dark. Bishops slide diagonally as far as they want. Let's see how they work!

Lesson Content

Try this position

The bishop moves diagonally any number of squares. It cannot jump over pieces. A bishop always stays on the same color square it started on.

Try this position

1. ♗︎g7

Move the bishop from d4 along the diagonal toward g7.

Slide the bishop diagonally to g7.

Try this position

This bishop is on a dark square (d4). It can never reach a light square! That's why having both bishops (the "bishop pair") is valuable—they cover all 64 squares together.

Try this position

1. ♗︎a1

Slide diagonally from d4 toward a1.

Move the bishop to the corner a1—as far as it can go on this diagonal.

Try this position

Bishops capture by landing on an enemy piece along their diagonal. They cannot jump over pieces—a piece in the way blocks the bishop's path beyond it.