Why a bishop stays on one colour
Because a bishop only moves diagonally, it stays on the same colour of square for the whole game. A bishop that starts on a light square will only ever visit light squares.
The rules in short
- Every diagonal step goes from a light square to another light square, or a dark one to another dark one.
- Each side has one light squared bishop and one dark squared bishop.
- A piece on a square of the other colour can never be captured by that bishop.
- Together the two bishops can reach every square on the board.
Good bishops and bad bishops
Players talk about a good bishop and a bad bishop. A bishop is called bad when many of your own pawns stand on its colour, because they block it. Knowing which colour your bishop lives on tells you which pawns to leave off its squares.
Why the pair is worth keeping
Two bishops cover both colours, so there is nowhere for the other side to hide. That is why having both bishops in an open position is often called an advantage.
Try it on a real board
This lesson is free and needs no account. You move the piece yourself on an interactive board, and it tells you straight away if the move is right.
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