Concepts · Pieces & Activity

Good Bishop / Bad Bishop

A bishop on the colour of its own pawns has fewer diagonals to work on; a bishop on the other colour is free. Exchanging the bad one, or keeping the good one, is a positional judgement the board can count.

Key ideas

Count the pawns on the bishop’s colour
Trading the bad bishop has a positional benefit
Put the pawns on the opposite colour to the bishop

Watch

Games that teach good bishop / bad bishop

3 games

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