Bishop

The bishop moves any number of squares along a diagonal, a chain of squares that touch corner to corner. It cannot jump: a friendly piece stops its path, while an enemy piece may be captured by finishing on that piece's square.

Each player begins with two bishops. One is a light-squared bishop and the other a dark-squared bishop. Because every diagonal move leads to a square of the same color, each bishop is restricted to thirty-two of the board's sixty-four squares. The two bishops complement one another because together they can operate on both colors.

The bishop stays on one color

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

a1

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

The bishop can move as far as e5, but it cannot occupy f6 or continue along that diagonal because f6 is occupied by a friendly pawn.

Two diagonals, two limits

The white bishop on d4 moves only along diagonals and always remains on squares of the same color. It can move as far as e5, but the friendly pawn on f6 blocks that diagonal. In the other direction, it can capture the black knight on b6, but it cannot move through it to reach a7.

1. The bishop can move as far as e5, but it cannot occupy f6 or continue along that diagonal because f6 is occupied by a friendly pawn.
2. The bishop can capture the knight on b6, but it cannot move through it to reach a7.

A bishop is a minor piece, the category containing bishops and knights, and is commonly valued at roughly three pawns. That comparison is a practical guide, not a rule. Its strength depends heavily on open diagonals: from a long diagonal, one crossing much of the board, it can influence distant areas, while a chain of pieces or pawns can leave it with almost no movement.