Bishop (chess)

In the game of chess, a Bishop is a piece that moves any number of squares diagonally in a single direction. Each player begins the game with two Bishops. One Bishop starts on a light square (c1 or f1 for White, c8 or f8 for Black), and the other on a dark square (a1 or h1 for White, a8 or h8 for Black). Because of its diagonal movement, a Bishop is restricted to the color of the squares it starts on; a light-squared Bishop can only move on light squares, and a dark-squared Bishop can only move on dark squares.

The Bishop's value is generally considered to be roughly equal to that of a Knight (approximately three pawns). However, the relative value of a Bishop can vary depending on the position. In open positions with few pawns, the Bishop's long-range diagonal movement can make it a potent attacking piece. In closed positions with many pawns, the Bishop's movement can be severely restricted, making it less effective than a Knight. A pair of Bishops is often considered a significant advantage, as they can control both light and dark squares and coordinate their attacks. A Bishop is said to be "bad" when its own pawns restrict its movement.