ChessRanger
Strategy

Good bishop

A bishop whose diagonals are open because your own pawns sit on the other colour.

A bishop is 'good' when your pawns are placed on squares of the opposite colour to it, leaving its diagonals clear. Such a bishop rakes across the board, defends and attacks, and is often worth more than a knight in open positions.

The health of a bishop is decided largely by your pawn structure, so a key strategic idea is to fix your pawns on the colour opposite your remaining bishop — and to trade off your bad bishop for the opponent's good one.

Why it matters

Whole plans revolve around keeping your good bishop and swapping the bad one — misjudging which is which quietly loses the strategic battle.

The mistake everyone makes

Locking your own pawns on the same colour as your bishop, turning a potentially strong piece into a spectator.

Related terms

Bad bishop
A bishop hemmed in by its own pawns, which sit on its colour and block its diagonals.
Pawn structure
The arrangement of the pawns, which shapes the plans available to both sides.
Bishop pair
Owning both bishops while the opponent has a bishop and knight, or two knights.
Fixed pawn
A pawn that can't advance and can't be defended by another pawn — a permanent target.

See Good bishop in your own games

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