How the bishop moves in chess
The bishop moves diagonally as far as it likes and always stays on squares of one colour. Learn how it moves and captures. How the pieces move · lesson 3 of 8.
The lesson in words
The bishop moves diagonally, as far as it likes, and can’t jump over pieces.
Because it only moves diagonally, a bishop stays on one colour for the whole game. Each player has one light-squared and one dark-squared bishop.
From the centre a bishop reaches the most squares.
Try it: Tap every square the bishop can move to.
The black rook is on the bishop’s diagonal.
Try it: Capture the rook with your bishop.
The bishop is worth about 3 pawns. Next: the queen, who moves like a rook and a bishop together.
Questions
Can this bishop ever reach a dark square?
Never. Every diagonal step lands on the same colour, so a light-squared bishop stays on light squares all game.