How to play chess: Bishops

The Bishop is a long range piece that can be very powerful, but it has a significant weakness - it can only ever move on squares of one colour. Each player starts the game with two bishops - one that moves on light squares, and one that moves on dark squares - so between them, the two bishops can cover all the squares on the board.

Movement

The bishop can move any number of squares in a straight diagonal line, so long as the squares between the bishop and its destination are unoccupied. The diagram below shows the legal moves for a bishop.

Unlike the knight, the bishop cannot jump over obstacles, so if something is blocking its path, the bishop can go no further. On the board below, drag the white bishop to make a legal move:

Incorrect Move Sorry, that's the wrong answer. Click 'continue' to try again.

Nice Try Your move was good, but there is a better one.

Solved! Well done, that's the correct answer!

The bishop captures the same way it moves. On the diagram below, make a capture with the white bishop:

Incorrect Move Sorry, that's the wrong answer. Click 'continue' to try again.

Nice Try Your move was good, but there is a better one.

Solved! Well done, that's the correct answer!

How to Play Chess Back to Contents << Knights Rooks >>

Our Tutorials