Bad Bishop
A bishop hemmed in by its own pawns, restricted in mobility and influence.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: I tell my students that a bad bishop is like a brilliant professor trapped in a windowless office. All the knowledge in the world does no good if you cannot get out and share it. A bishop may control wonderful diagonals in theory, but if its own pawns block every single one, it is little more than an expensive pawn itself. Recognizing a bad bishop — and knowing what to do about it — is one of the most important positional skills you can develop.
What Makes a Bishop "Bad"?
In chess, a bishop is called "bad" when it is restricted by its own pawns. Specifically, a bad bishop is one whose central pawns are fixed on the same color squares as the bishop. Since a bishop can only move diagonally on squares of one color, and pawns sitting on those same-colored squares block the diagonals, the bishop's scope is dramatically reduced.
Consider a light-squared bishop for White. If White's pawns are fixed on e4, d3, and c4 — all light squares — the bishop has very few open diagonals to work with. It is boxed in by its own army. By contrast, if those pawns were on dark squares (e5, d4, c5), the light-squared bishop would have free run of the light diagonals.
The term "bad" refers strictly to the bishop's activity relative to the pawn structure. A bad bishop is not inherently a weak piece — bishops are always strong in principle. The problem is that the pawn structure has robbed it of its natural strength. In a different pawn configuration, the same bishop could be excellent.
Bad bishops are a particularly common issue in the French Defense, the Slav Defense, and various Queen's Gambit structures. In the French Defense, Black's light-squared bishop on c8 is notoriously difficult to develop because the pawn chain on e6-d5 blocks all its natural diagonals. Dealing with this "French bishop" is one of the central strategic challenges of the opening.
Identifying a Bad Bishop
In this position, let us identify the bad bishops. Black's bishop on b7 is a light-squared bishop, and Black's central pawns sit on c6, d5, and e6 — all light squares. The bishop has virtually no diagonals to operate on. It aims at d5, which is blocked by its own pawn. It cannot reach a6 or c8 without extensive maneuvering. This bishop is undeniably bad.
White's bishop on b2, by contrast, is a dark-squared bishop sitting behind pawns on d4 and e3 (dark squares). However, the b2 bishop has a long diagonal aimed at the kingside (b2-g7), and while d4 and e3 block some of its path, it still has scope through the a1-h8 diagonal. It is restricted but not as badly as Black's light-squared bishop.
The key diagnostic question is: does the bishop have open diagonals, or are they all blocked by its own pawns? If the answer is that most diagonals are blocked, the bishop is bad. If at least one major diagonal is open, the bishop retains significant activity.
In practical play, you should always evaluate your bishops' activity when assessing a position. A position where you have a good bishop and your opponent has a bad bishop is a meaningful advantage, especially as the game progresses toward an endgame where the bad bishop becomes an increasingly heavy burden.
Black's bishop on b7 is bad — blocked by pawns on c6, d5, and e6. It has minimal influence.
Strategies for Handling a Bad Bishop
When you have a bad bishop, your goal is either to improve it or to exchange it for a more useful piece. Several strategies can help.
First, try to activate the bishop by placing it outside the pawn chain. In the French Defense, for example, Black sometimes maneuvers the light-squared bishop from c8 to d7 to e8 to h5, getting it outside the e6-d5 pawn chain. This "bishop tour" costs several tempi but can transform the bishop from a liability into an active piece.
Second, consider exchanging the bad bishop. If you can trade your bad bishop for your opponent's good bishop or an active knight, you eliminate a weakness and improve your piece quality. Many strategic plans revolve around engineering such an exchange.
Third, change the pawn structure. If you can advance or exchange the pawns that are blocking your bishop, the bishop may come to life. In the French Defense, Black often aims for the e6-e5 push, which opens the light diagonal and activates the bad bishop.
Fourth, use the bad bishop for defensive purposes. Even a bad bishop can serve as a useful defender of key squares and pawns. While it may not be an offensive weapon, it can contribute to the solidity of your position.
Finally, when your opponent has a bad bishop, your strategy should emphasize keeping the pawn structure locked. Every pawn exchange risks opening diagonals for the bad bishop. Maintain the pawns on the color of the opponent's bishop to keep it restricted.
Questions About Bad Bishops
Can a bad bishop still be useful?
Yes. A bad bishop can defend important pawns, control key squares near the king, and serve as a last line of defense. Additionally, in some positions, a bad bishop can become active if the pawn structure changes. It is always worth looking for ways to improve a bad bishop rather than writing it off entirely.
Is a bad bishop always worse than a knight?
In closed positions with fixed pawns, a knight is often superior to a bad bishop because the knight can jump over obstacles. However, if the position opens up, even a formerly bad bishop can become powerful. The comparison depends heavily on the specific position.
How do I avoid getting a bad bishop?
Place your central pawns on the opposite color from your bishop. If you have a light-squared bishop, try to place your pawns on dark squares (d4, e5, c5), leaving the light squares open for the bishop. This requires planning during the opening and early middlegame.
Professor Archer says: There are two ways to deal with a bad bishop: activate it or exchange it. Activating means getting the bishop outside the pawn chain, often by maneuvering it to a diagonal where it is not blocked. Exchanging means trading it for one of the opponent's active pieces. Both require planning and patience. The one thing you should not do is leave a bad bishop sitting passively while the game passes it by.
Quick Quiz
A bishop is considered "bad" when:
- It is located on the edge of the board - A bishop on the edge may have reduced scope, but that alone does not make it bad. The critical factor is the relationship between the bishop and its own pawn structure.
- Its own pawns are fixed on the same color squares, blocking its diagonals (Correct) - Correct. A bad bishop is specifically one whose own pawns are placed on the same color squares, restricting its diagonals and severely limiting its activity.
- It has been developed to a poor square in the opening - A bishop can be on a suboptimal square temporarily without being "bad" in the technical sense. The term refers specifically to the pawn structure restricting the bishop.
- The opponent has two bishops and you only have one - Having one bishop versus two is a separate concept (the bishop pair advantage). A bad bishop is about the relationship between your bishop and your own pawn structure.