The Bishop Pair
Two bishops working together control both colors and dominate open positions.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: I always tell my students: two bishops are not just two pieces — they are a team greater than the sum of its parts. One bishop controls light squares, the other controls dark squares, and together they cover the entire board. No square is safe from their combined gaze. When your opponent has traded away a bishop and you still have both, you possess a strategic asset that, in the right position, can be worth as much as half a pawn of extra material.
Why the Bishop Pair Is Powerful
The bishop pair is one of the most well-known strategic advantages in chess. When you have both bishops and your opponent has traded one away (typically having a bishop and a knight, or two knights), you control a complementary pair of pieces that together influence every square on the board.
A single bishop, no matter how well placed, can only control squares of one color. If you have a light-squared bishop, all the dark squares are beyond its reach. But with two bishops, every square on the board is covered. The light-squared bishop handles one half of the board, the dark-squared bishop handles the other, and together they create a web of influence that is very difficult for the opponent to navigate.
The bishop pair's advantage is most pronounced in open positions. When there are few pawns in the center and the diagonals are clear, both bishops can operate at full capacity, criss-crossing the board with long-range threats. In contrast, in closed positions with locked pawns, the bishops may be restricted and the knight's ability to jump over obstacles becomes more valuable.
Statistical analysis of master-level games confirms that the bishop pair wins more often than it loses. Some estimates suggest the bishop pair is worth approximately half a pawn in extra material value. This may not sound like much, but at the highest levels of chess, half a pawn can be the difference between winning and drawing.
The Bishop Pair in Action
In this position, White has the bishop pair with bishops on c1 and e2, while Black has a bishop on g7 and a knight on f6. White's bishops are currently modest in their placement, but the structure offers great potential.
The bishop on e2 can maneuver to more active squares, perhaps to d3 or f3, aiming at the kingside. The bishop on c1 can develop to e3, d2, or even b2 after appropriate preparation. Together, they will control diagonals across both colors of the board.
White's strategic plan should focus on opening the position. Pawn exchanges in the center would give the bishops more room to operate. If White can trade the d5 and e4 pawns for Black's central pawns, the resulting open position would allow the bishops to dominate.
Black, recognizing White's bishop pair advantage, should try to keep the position closed. Maintaining the pawn tension and avoiding unnecessary exchanges preserves a structure where the knight on f6 can compete with the bishops. Black might also seek to exchange one of White's bishops, eliminating the pair advantage entirely.
This strategic tension — the bishop pair holder trying to open the position while the opponent tries to keep it closed — is a recurring theme whenever the bishop pair is in play.
White's bishops on c1 and e2 form the bishop pair. Opening the position will unleash their combined power.
When the Bishop Pair Thrives and When It Struggles
The bishop pair is not always an advantage. Understanding when it thrives and when it struggles helps you make better strategic decisions about piece trades.
The bishop pair thrives in open positions with clear diagonals. When the center is fluid, pawns have been exchanged, and there are no locked pawn chains blocking the diagonals, two bishops can dominate the entire board. They excel in endgames with pawns on both sides of the board, because they can simultaneously influence the kingside and queenside while the opponent's pieces must choose one flank or the other.
The bishop pair also excels when the opponent's pawns are fixed on one color. If the opponent's pawns are mostly on dark squares, your light-squared bishop attacks them freely while your dark-squared bishop controls the squares around them. This coordination is devastating.
The bishop pair struggles in closed positions with blocked pawn chains. When the diagonals are obstructed, neither bishop can operate effectively, and a knight can outperform both of them by jumping over the obstacles. In these positions, having two bishops may actually be a disadvantage.
The bishop pair also loses some value in positions where the opponent can establish a strong knight outpost. A knight cemented on e5 or d5, supported by a pawn and unchallenged by enemy pawns, can be more powerful than both bishops in certain structures.
The practical takeaway: when you win the bishop pair, steer toward open positions. When your opponent has the bishop pair, keep the position closed.
Questions About the Bishop Pair
How much is the bishop pair worth?
The bishop pair is generally estimated to be worth about half a pawn (0.5 points) in material value. This means if you have the bishop pair, it is roughly equivalent to being up half a pawn in material. This advantage is most significant in open positions.
Should I always try to preserve my bishop pair?
Generally yes, unless trading a bishop yields a concrete tactical or strategic benefit. For example, if trading your bishop wins material, creates a decisive attack, or eliminates a dangerous enemy piece, the trade may be worthwhile despite losing the pair. Always evaluate the specific position.
Is bishop-and-knight always worse than two bishops?
Not always. In closed positions with many pawns, a knight can be more effective than a second bishop. Bishop-and-knight is a versatile combination that covers both colors in a different way (the bishop controls one color, the knight accesses all squares). The position type determines which combination is stronger.
How do I exploit the bishop pair against two knights?
Open the position by exchanging central pawns to give your bishops long diagonals. Keep the game on both flanks so the slow-footed knights must divide their attention. Place your bishops on long diagonals where they can influence the entire board while the knights are limited to nearby squares.
Professor Archer says: The secret to using the bishop pair is to open the position. Bishops love wide-open spaces with clear diagonals. If the position is locked with pawns, the bishop pair's advantage is muted. So when you have the two bishops, trade pawns, open lines, and watch your bishops come alive. They will repay your investment many times over.
Quick Quiz
When you have the bishop pair and your opponent has a bishop and knight, what should your general strategy be?
- Keep the position closed with locked pawns - Closed positions favor knights, not bishops. Keeping the position locked would neutralize your bishop pair advantage and play into your opponent's hands.
- Trade pawns to open the position and give your bishops long diagonals (Correct) - Correct. The bishop pair is most powerful in open positions with clear diagonals. By exchanging central pawns, you create the conditions where your two bishops can dominate the entire board.
- Exchange one bishop for the opponent's knight immediately - Trading a bishop for a knight would eliminate your bishop pair advantage. You want to maintain both bishops and exploit their combined strength.
- Focus entirely on the kingside regardless of pawn structure - The bishop pair's strength lies in controlling both flanks simultaneously. Focusing on one side ignores this advantage. Instead, open the position so both bishops can influence the entire board.