Questions tagged [bishops]
Questions relating to the Bishop.
60
questions
2
votes
2answers
85 views
How to decide whether to exchange (good/active) bishops?
I have read about exchanging bishops for knights and inactive for active bishops. I still don't know how to decide when both sides' bishops are seemingly equally active. For instance, I have read that ...
1
vote
0answers
39 views
Magic bitboards: My indexing doesn't seem to work!
I am beginning to understand magic bitboards. I have successfully implemented them with Rooks, and I am currently working with Bishops. The method is very similar though.
Problem
I have a bishop on g7 ...
5
votes
1answer
156 views
Why pin knights early in the opening?
I am a beginner amateur player, and I have been thinking about openings. On lots of occasions the opponent pins the white knight on Nc3 or Nf3 (as black) or the black knight on Nc6/Nf6. What is the ...
12
votes
3answers
1k views
Theoretically, why is 4. Bd3 NOT one of the best candidates in Caro-Kann?
I seem to find 4. Bd3 to be one of the best choices in Caro-Kann.
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Bd3
My reasoning:
White's light bishop can only develop to Be2 or Bd3. Be2 seems passive.
...
0
votes
2answers
80 views
Identifying “big pawn” bishops
I use to trade my bishop pairs for opponent’s knight pair most of the time. But since my recent peak of interest in the game, I have been doing studying and learning. Thus, the bishop is one of my ...
1
vote
1answer
95 views
Are there illustrative examples where a conventionally “bad bishop” leads its side to a win?
I was looking the Chess glossary and two words brought curiosity : bad bishop and big pawn. Where the later being the condition that occurs when you have a bad bishop. One thing i noticed was bad ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
How do I keep my bishop pair in this Ruy Lopez line?
I am learning Ruy Lopez. And I always play Ruy Lopez opening while I am playing with the white pieces. I recently played the game with Ruy-Lopez and my moves are
[FEN ""]
[StartPly "10"]
1.e4 e5 2....
8
votes
2answers
309 views
Bishops of Opposite Colors endgame: Is this a draw?
[FEN ""]
[Event "Rated Correspondence game"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/GILERcIS"]
[Date "2020.02.26"]
[Round "-"]
[White "mathwhiz16"]
[Black "theMortician"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[UTCDate "2020.02.26"]
...
2
votes
1answer
178 views
What is the “Gufeld Bishop”?
I have another question I am going to ask and answer.
The other day, I was watching a chess24 video, and GM Jan Gustafsson mentioned the “Gufeld Bishop”. What is the “Gufeld Bishop”?
4
votes
1answer
323 views
Is there a method to efficiently generate moves for bishops?
I currently have a function which returns the closed off squares for a piece in a particular position based on pieces blocking it. This function iterates over the rays of a piece and is sufficiently ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
Good Knight Against Bad Bishop Endgame - A More Constructive Plan?
I reached the position below in a recent tournament game
[Event "Recent Tournament"]
[Site "Deepest, Darkest Oxfordshire"]
[Date "Feb 2020"]
[White "Ian Bush"]
[Black "A Young Victim"]
[Result "1-0"]
...
18
votes
11answers
7k views
Why does a knight combine better with the queen than a bishop does?
From this question, the couple queen + knight is strong in attacking the opponent's king.
I searched why the knight combines better than the bishop with a queen, and all I could find, from this ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
When is it a good idea to capture the fianchettoed bishop?
According to Simon Williams, from 25:10 and forwards of this stream, his opponents attempt at capturing his fianchettoed bishop with a bishop and queen battery is not a good idea "in these types of ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the most suitable position for a bishop here?
Recently I played a game with White whose link is:
https://lichess.org/pAoAUp4O/white#42
and reached this position:
I am having a hard time finding why the moves I played next (22. Rxe8+? Rxe8 23. ...
13
votes
3answers
4k views
A case where Bishop for knight isn't a good trade
I have played recently a game. In the position below Stockfish is saying that Nxe6 is a mistake and Rad1 is suggested but I'm having a hard time figuring out why. Can someone provide some insights ? ...
2
votes
2answers
122 views
Threatening the Queen in the bishop with Bg5
I have long been playing games in which I can develop my bishop to g5 like in the following positions:
The truth is I have trouble deciding if such moves are useful. In the diagrams, what pushed me ...
3
votes
1answer
467 views
What are the shortest possible games with a) 20 Bishops, b) 20 Knights, and c) 20 Rooks?
The fastest way to get to 18 queees is known. But what are the shortest possible games with a) 20 Bishops, b) 20 Knights, and c) 20 Rooks?
Here are my own attempts. Can anybody find or create a ...
1
vote
1answer
157 views
Can one win with two dark square bishops and two light square bishops and his opponent has only one queen?
Can one win with two dark square bishops and two light square bishops and his opponent has only one queen?
I remember seeing this endgame being analyzed in a video around 10 years ago (and I think ...
2
votes
2answers
507 views
Are a pair of bishops of the same colour usually worth less than a pair of bishops of different colours?
People have been discussing about the value of a pair of two bishops. I am wondering if two bishops are of the same colour, are they generally worth less than a pair of bishops of different colours?
...
8
votes
6answers
911 views
At what playing strength level should one be able to mate with King Bishop and Knight vs King?
As in title above, at what playing strength level should one be able to mate with King, Bishop and Knight vs King without much effort (with reasonable time left for the game)?
5
votes
3answers
257 views
Placing the bishops on the right square
I have always been curious about how I can determine whether the bishop is better on e7 or on d6 playing with Black (of course when c5 and b4 are not possible or satisfactory).
I will provide some ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Why would trading this bad bishop be a bad move?
When running a game I played through the analysis engines, I get that my 12th move, 12.Ba3, was an inaccuracy (-0.3 -> -1.3).
Since my center pawns are on dark squares, I assumed my dark bishop was a ...
11
votes
2answers
883 views
How can I get a collection of chess games with a 'Greek gift' sacrifice?
I would like to make a collection of chess games that feature the 'Greek gift' sacrifice. There are few games on chessgames.com annotated with this sacrifice. I could find blogs with individual ...
3
votes
3answers
396 views
Which opening will develop both bishops like the following diagrams?
I'm looking for a chess opening that would result in something similar to the following end-positionings:
A nice open diagonal for the bishops.
or maybe the other way:
Also, what are the strengths ...
3
votes
2answers
324 views
Longest forced win with just a Knight or Bishop
A single knight or bishop usually isn't enough to force checkmate. However, I know there are certain positions where the defending side has his king in front of a rook pawn where a win can be forced.
...
13
votes
3answers
2k views
How to decide when is a3/h3 needed?
a3/h3 are frequently used to prevent the bishops from pinning the knights.
I always have a hard time deciding whether to play them or not. Playing them loses moves and tempo while not playing can ...
3
votes
1answer
280 views
Is a forced draw by 50 moves possible with Bishop and Knight endgame?
Excepting the variations where there is a capture or fork possible for the defending side. Is a position possible where this kind of endgame will last more than 50 moves?
Is somewhere a calculation in ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
What does “penned in” mean in Chess?
Bishops are worth more than knights except when they are penned in.
What is meant by penned in? Does that mean that they are blocked by other pieces?
10
votes
1answer
721 views
When is a bishop stronger than a rook?
Usually the rook is stronger than the bishop. Are there situations (and obviously I'm not assuming equal material) in which the latter is stronger?
7
votes
2answers
327 views
Why is `a5` a better move in this position?
I was playing with a friend and we come to the following position (me white):
My friend played b5 but computer analysis says that this is a mistake and he should have played a5. Now, I don't see why ...
3
votes
3answers
309 views
What are good defenses of black King with Bishop on f8 or g7?
As black, I like to return my dark square Bishop to the King after castling short. I want to develop my skills in defending that position. In what openings does it occur?
And how should one in ...
4
votes
3answers
192 views
dark-squared Bishop in KID
In the typical KID black tries to play for a mating attack. Consequently, the dark squared bishop usually ended up sleeping on g7 or sometimes reroute itself to defended the d6 pawn which is critical ...
4
votes
2answers
218 views
What are some techniques for BvN endgames?
Let's say all the pawns are on one side of the board, either left, middle or right. (If there were two pawn groups far from each other, I imagine the Bishop would be much better than the Knight.)
So ...
5
votes
10answers
7k views
Why is the rook worth 5 points while the bishop is only worth 3?
Why is the rook worth 5 points while the bishop is only worth 3? Rooks only move straight, but bishops only move diagonally. Is there something that makes moving straight more to moving diagonally?
2
votes
2answers
154 views
Why did Shirov not trade bishop for knight in this position to play against doubled, isolated b-pawns?
In The wisest things ever said about chess by GM Soltis, he quotes this about tempi and gives the following example:
Tempi should not be counted but weighed.
[FEN "r2q1rk1/pp1b1nb1/n2p1pp1/3Pp2p/...
1
vote
1answer
180 views
Is exchanging a knight for a bishop and open the game a good strategy for beginners? [duplicate]
I just learned that bishops are better in an opened game, but in a "normal" game is it good to follow this strategy?
3
votes
1answer
281 views
When should I trade into opposite colored bishops?
This is something that always confuses me. If I have an edge, I may trade and the game becomes drawish. If I am down, I seem to trade and I get ground down.
I'm aware of things like potential ...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
When and why should I trade minor pieces?
After looking at bishop placement and bishops compared to knights i came to the following question:
When would it be beneficial to trade a knight for a bishop, or vice versa?
This includes the ...
6
votes
1answer
420 views
Checkmating with two bishops
Let White have the two bishops. Given any setup, has the maximum number of moves to forced mate been calculated? If not, are there any bounds on this number?
Of course, information on extensions of ...
3
votes
1answer
122 views
Capturing one bishop
I was just looking for the best move in the position (White to move).
And I thought that capturing the bishop in green square would be the best as it controls
the open a8-h1 diagonal ,but the ...
6
votes
2answers
241 views
How to exploit the advantage of a bishop over a knight?
Occasionally in a tournament game I will find myself with a material imbalance of BvN or BBvBN in a situation where I know the extra bishop should be superior (center cleared of pawns, pawns on both ...
4
votes
5answers
937 views
Is the bishop pair and a pawn equivalent to knight and a rook?
In theory, rook (5) + knight (3) = 8 points.
And bishop (3.25) + bishop (3.25) + pawn (1) = 7.5 points.
For example, do you think black is better in the following scenario or do you believe white ...
2
votes
1answer
238 views
Chess puzzle that is hard to understand
Today I was solving a chess problem as following picture :
[fen "r1bqr1k1/1p3nbp/2pp2p1/2n2P2/p1PN1P2/2N1B1PP/PPQ3B1/R3R1K1 b - - 0 1"]
The solution given was 1...Rxe3, but I did not get the actual ...
1
vote
1answer
244 views
What squares are the most active for bishops?
For a beginner:
Where are bishops mostly exchanged or placed?
Where are knights mostly exchanged or placed?
11
votes
2answers
9k views
endgame with single Bishop or single Knight?
If given the choice should I opt for an endgame with a single Bishop or a single Knight? I understand Bishops increase in value in the endgame but is the disadvantage of covering only half the squares ...
2
votes
4answers
904 views
Should I accept doubled pawns to remove the opponent's bishop pair advantage?
I understand that this can be very situational which is why I don't provide a position as I am seeking some more generally applicable answer or things to consider.
Assuming that the opponent has a ...
5
votes
4answers
244 views
What are good strategies or principles to prolonging the first stage of a game?
Is there a particular strategy or principle you can use to drag out the first stage of a game, namely, to preserve all your pieces as long as possible.
One way I can imagine this being useful, if ...
5
votes
2answers
254 views
How do you hold a draw with a bishop against a rook?
Bishop and King versus Rook and King is a draw. Yet it is easy to go wrong and lose. How do you hold a draw?
21
votes
2answers
26k views
How do you checkmate with the pair of bishops?
How do you checkmate with the pair of Bishops and King versus King?
Are there any stalemates to look out for?
What are the key ideas / positions / tricks to make it work?
Thanks!
3
votes
1answer
205 views
Is this Rook versus Bishop endgame winning for white (white to move)?
[fen "8/8/5b2/5k2/8/3R4/4K3/8 w - - 0 1"]
In this endgame can white win ? If so what is the plan here for white or how sould black try to defend this position
