Openingtrainer challenging the bishop

Many chess players are obsessed with the knight's jump. The knight moves in a remarkable way and can even jump over other pieces. Yet bishops are also fantastic pieces. If we compare the value of pieces, knights and bishops often both receive three points. Their value is therefore equal to approximately three pawns. Yet bishops are actually a tiny bit stronger than a knight, because bishops can cover a long distance in one move.

Bishops are especially strong when they are part of the bishop pair. You have the bishop pair if your bishops of both colors are on the board. Together, both bishops can cover all squares across the board. So one bishop can complement the weakness of the other bishop. Strong chess players are a bit reluctant to simply give up their bishop for a knight if it means they are losing their bishop pair.

It can be a smart idea to force a trade from an enemy bishop for your knight. In the example we see how White advances the pawn in front of the rook one step. Often this move means a loss of time, but in this case it forces Black to react because the bishop is challenged. If Black chooses to exchange the bishop, he or she no longer has the bishop pair.