ChessRanger
Endgame

Opposite-coloured bishops

Each side has one bishop, on opposite colours — strongly drawish in the endgame, sharp in the middlegame.

Because the bishops can never challenge each other, the defender can set up a blockade on the colour the attacker's bishop cannot touch — so even two extra pawns often fail to win a pure opposite-bishop ending.

The same feature makes them dangerous with queens or rooks still on: the attacker's bishop dominates its colour with no opposite number to trade it, so opposite bishops actually favour the attack in the middlegame.

Why it matters

The rule of thumb 'opposite bishops draw the endgame but sharpen the middlegame' guides whether to trade into them or keep pieces on.

The mistake everyone makes

Steering a winning position into a pure opposite-bishop endgame and discovering the extra pawns can't break the blockade.

Related terms

Fortress
A drawn setup the stronger side cannot break down despite being materially ahead.
Bishop pair
Owning both bishops while the opponent has a bishop and knight, or two knights.
Passed pawn
A pawn with no enemy pawns able to block or capture it on its way to promotion.

See Opposite-coloured bishops in your own games

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