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Bishop
The bishop moves any number of empty squares along a diagonal.[1][2]
Page updated: 30 Oct 2026.
Explanation
Moving only diagonally, it stays on squares of one colour, light or dark, for the whole game.[2] Every square it crosses has to be empty, so a piece standing on its diagonal stops it.[1][2] It captures an enemy piece at the end of a clear diagonal, but it never moves to a square occupied by one of its own pieces and never makes a move after which its own king is in check.[1][2]
Examples
For example, a white bishop on f1 has no move at all when a white pawn stands on e2 and another on g2, since those two pawns block both of its diagonals.[1] A bishop on f1 can reach c4 in one move only if both squares in between, e2 and d3, are empty.[1][2]
Related distinctions
Unlike a knight, which is not blocked by pieces in between, a bishop needs its whole diagonal path to be clear.[1][2]
Next steps
- Black's replies to 1.e4 ranked at 1500–1799 (Rankings by Lichess rating level)
- How the wiki texts and numbers are made (Method)
- Chess wiki index (Chess wiki)
Sources
- FIDE: Laws of Chess (effective from 1 January 2023), retrieved 25 Oct 2026. Licence: © FIDE; cited and paraphrased. Our use: Facts only, in our own words; no text copied.
- Wikipedia: Rules of chess, retrieved 30 Oct 2026. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0. Our use: Facts only, in our own words; no text copied.
Our sentences are our own wording. How the texts and numbers are made: Method.