Openings
Fianchetto
Italian for 'little flank'
Developing a bishop to the long diagonal from b2, g2, b7 or g7.
You play a pawn to b3/g3 (or …b6/…g6) and put the bishop on the long diagonal, where it rakes across the whole board and helps shield a castled king.
It is the backbone of openings like the King's Indian, the Grünfeld, and many English and Catalan systems.
Why it matters
A fianchettoed bishop can be your best piece for the whole game — or a sorely missed defender if it gets traded off.
The mistake everyone makes
Trading away your fianchettoed bishop and leaving the holes around your king (like g6/g3) permanently weak.
Related terms
Development
Bringing your pieces off the back rank into active, useful positions.
Opening principles
The starter rules: control the centre, develop pieces, castle early, don't move the queen out too soon.
King safety
How exposed your king is to attack — usually the most important factor in the middlegame.
Weak square
A square that can no longer be defended by a pawn, inviting an enemy piece to settle there.
See Fianchetto in your own games
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