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For the parent

How the bishop moves

Lesson 5 of 20 Age 5+ Time 10 minutes Before this the rook

In short

A bishop moves diagonally, as many squares as it likes. It can't jump over pieces. A bishop stays on the same color all game: one of your bishops moves on light squares, the other on dark squares.

  • A bishop is worth about 3 pawns.
  • Two bishops together cover both colors.
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A bishop moves on the diagonals. This one stays on dark squares.
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The c1 bishop always moves on dark squares, the f1 bishop on light squares.

Teach it

  1. DoPut a white bishop on c1 and nothing else.
  2. Say“The bishop walks on the diagonals, like a zigzag of the same color.”
  3. Ask“What color is the bishop's square?”
  4. Child“Dark.”
  5. Say“Then it will be on a dark square all game long.”
Hand the screen to your child

Your turn!

Take all three black pawns with the bishop.

Three quick questions

  1. Which way does a bishop move?

  2. Can a bishop go from a light square to a dark square?

  3. Can a bishop jump over a piece?

Practice sheet: Bishop moves

One page, free to print, no sign-in. The answers print on the next page.

Bishop movesName ____________________
  1. a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

    Draw a dot on every square this bishop can reach.

  2. a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

    Is this bishop on a light or a dark square?

  3. a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

    Circle the pawns the bishop can capture.

  4. a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

    Can the bishop capture the knight in one move? Draw the path.

Answers: Bishop moves

  1. b2, a3, d2, e3, f4, g5, h6.
  2. Light (f1).
  3. Both: b3 and g4.
  4. Yes: a1 to h8 is one long diagonal.

Questions parents ask

Why does each side have a light and a dark bishop?

One bishop starts on a light square and one on a dark square. A bishop never changes color, so together they cover the whole board.

Can a bishop move one square?

Yes. It moves any number of squares on a diagonal, from one to as far as the path is clear.

Rules checked against FIDE Laws of Chess, taking effect from 1 January 2023 (Article 3.2) on . Found something to fix? Tell us on the contact page.