Chess pieces
How the bishop moves
The bishop moves any number of squares along a diagonal, as long as nothing is in the way.
The bishop's move, in plain words
The bishop moves any number of squares along a diagonal, as long as nothing is in the way. It always stays on the same color of square it started on, so each side has one light-squared and one dark-squared bishop.
3 points13 squares from the center7 squares from a corner
What to remember
- Bishops love open diagonals and long ranges, especially from the corner to corner.
- Two bishops working together cover both square colors.
- A bishop on the edge sees only one diagonal, so keep it in the middle when you can.
Common mistakes
- Trading a bishop for a knight without a reason; in open positions the bishop is often better.
- Putting a bishop where a pawn blocks its diagonal.
- Forgetting that a lone bishop can never attack the other color of squares.
In Cats vs Dogs Chess
The bishop is a Sphynx or a Shiba Inu
It glides along the diagonals. Play the 3D game against the computer or a friend, free in your browser.
Play chessPractice with puzzles
The other pieces
Questions
How does a bishop move?
Any number of squares diagonally, as long as the path is clear. It cannot jump over other pieces.
Can a bishop change color?
No. A bishop stays on light or dark squares for the whole game.
Which is better, a bishop or a knight?
They are worth about the same. Bishops are usually better in open positions and knights in closed ones.