How the Bishop Moves in Chess, Explained for Kids

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Each player starts with two bishops, standing next to the king and queen. The bishop is a long-range piece: it can cross the whole board in a single move, as long as nothing is in its way.

How the bishop moves

• Diagonally, any number of squares, forwards or backwards.
• It cannot jump. It stops when another piece is in the way. If that piece belongs to the opponent, the bishop can capture it.
• It stays on one colour for the whole game. A bishop that starts on a light square only ever moves on light squares. That is why each player has one "light-squared" and one "dark-squared" bishop.

Using the bishops well

• Open them early. At the start of the game the bishops are trapped behind their own pawns. Moving the pawns in front of the king and queen lets them out.
• Long diagonals are best. A bishop on a long, open diagonal can attack things on the far side of the board.
• Two bishops work as a team. Together they cover both colours, which is why keeping both of them is an advantage.

Bishops are especially good at the pin and the skewer, two tricks that use their long lines.

For parents

A fun way to practise: put one bishop and a few pawns on an empty board and ask your child to capture all the pawns in as few moves as possible. They will quickly discover that some pawns can never be reached, because they stand on the other colour. A bishop is worth about three points, like a knight.