The Bishop in the Endgame: diagonals, pawns and the right diagonal

The bishop is the long-range piece par excellence. In endgames, that quality is amplified: as long as there are open diagonals and room to maneuver, the bishop can control the whole board from a single square.

But having a bishop isn’t enough. You need to know where to put it.

The right diagonal

In many endgames, the most important decision is which diagonal your bishop occupies. A diagonal that controls the promotion square of the enemy passed pawn can save half a point. A diagonal that controls nothing relevant can lose the game.

The rule is straightforward: if the opponent has a passed pawn, your bishop must watch the diagonal that passes through that pawn’s promotion square. If you control that diagonal, the pawn doesn’t promote.

What if the promotion square is the opposite color to your bishop? Then the bishop can’t stop it alone. You’ll need the king as backup.

The bishop with pawns on both flanks

This is where the bishop shines. With pawns on both sides of the board, the bishop can act on both flanks without moving (or with just one move). It’s its main advantage over the knight, which needs several moves to cross the board.

If you have pawns on both flanks and an open position, your bishop is the superior piece. The opponent will have to choose which flank to defend with their king, and you’ll attack on the other.

The bishop as a defender

The bishop also defends effectively. It can:

• Watch passed pawns from a distance: it doesn’t need to stand in front of the pawn like the knight. From three squares away, the bishop controls the promotion diagonal.
• Cover two flanks at once: a centralized bishop can watch threats on both sides of the board.
• Sacrifice itself for a passed pawn if needed: if the pawn is about to promote, the bishop can sacrifice itself to eliminate it and leave a king vs king endgame that’s a draw.

Weaknesses of the bishop

The bishop has its limitations:

It only controls one color

The bishop only reaches half the squares on the board. If the opponent puts their pawns and king on the other color, your bishop just watches, unable to do anything. That’s why opposite-colored bishops tend toward draws.

It needs open diagonals

If pawns block the bishop’s diagonals, its long range is worthless. A bishop with no diagonals is worse than a knight. That’s why it’s essential to keep the position open when you have the bishop.

It doesn’t jump

Unlike the knight, the bishop can’t jump over pieces. If a pawn blocks its diagonal, it has to go around. In closed positions, that’s a burden.

Practical rules

1. Choose the right diagonal before it’s too late. Look at where the enemy pawns promote and place your bishop accordingly.
2. Keep the position open. The bishop needs long diagonals. If you can prevent the position from closing, do it.
3. Fix the enemy pawns on your color. If the opponent’s pawns are on the squares your bishop controls, they become permanent targets.
4. Don’t trap it. A bishop behind its own pawns is a bad bishop.
5. Activate the king. The bishop restricts; the king invades. They work as a team.

Keep learning

• Good bishop and bad bishop — when the bishop performs and when it doesn’t
• Bishop vs knight — the direct comparison
• Opposite-colored bishops — the tendency toward draws
• Minor piece endgames — all the articles in this section