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Strategy

Fianchetto bishop

A bishop developed on the long diagonal from g2/b2 (or g7/b7) behind a knight-file pawn.

Fianchettoing means playing g3 and Bg2 (or b3 and Bb2, and the mirror images for Black) so the bishop rakes the long diagonal from the corner. It's the heart of systems like the King's Indian, Catalan and English, giving the bishop maximum scope and helping shield a castled king.

The fianchetto bishop is a prized attacker and defender, so a recurring strategic theme is whether to trade it off: exchanging the opponent's fianchetto bishop (or losing your own) often leaves lasting weaknesses on the squares it used to guard.

Why it matters

The fianchetto bishop defends the king and controls the centre from afar — trading it (yours or theirs) reshapes the whole middlegame, so its fate is a key strategic decision.

The mistake everyone makes

Swapping off your own fianchetto bishop for no reason and leaving gaping holes on the long diagonal around your king.

Related terms

Fianchetto
Developing a bishop to the long diagonal from b2, g2, b7 or g7.
Good bishop
A bishop whose diagonals are open because your own pawns sit on the other colour.
Bishop pair
Owning both bishops while the opponent has a bishop and knight, or two knights.
King safety
How exposed your king is to attack — usually the most important factor in the middlegame.

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