How the bishop moves in chess
How to play chess
How does the bishop move in chess?
The bishop moves any number of squares along a diagonal. Because it only moves diagonally, a bishop always stays on the same colour of square it started on. Each player has one light-squared bishop and one dark-squared bishop.
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The green dots show where the piece can go; a green frame is a capture.
The rules
- The bishop moves diagonally, as far as it likes.
- It cannot jump over pieces.
- It captures by moving onto an enemy piece on its diagonal.
- A bishop is worth about three pawns. Two bishops together, covering both colours, are a strong pair.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting that a bishop can never reach squares of the other colour.
- Blocking your own bishop with your pawns.
Remember
Diagonals only, and always on the same colour.
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