Power of the Bishop Pair | Chess Middlegames

The Bishop Pair is considered to be a big advantage. It is more effective and more destructive than any other combination of minor pieces!

A bishop is worth three points, same as a knight, but, when you have the bishop pair, their potential value rises significantly. One bishop controls only one color complex and can be easily parried. The opposing player could, for example, simply put all of his pieces to the “wrong” color, and the bishop becomes barren, almost obsolete on the board where it all of a sudden has no more targets.

Two bishops, however, are a lot more potent and they simply cannot be nullified. Their power can hardly be dampened due to the fact that they complement each other, thus controlling both color complexes and controlling the entire board. The Bishop Pair greatly resembles a pair of rooks. The only difference between them is that rooks move vertically and horizontally, and bishops move diagonally. They are able to achieve complete control, though, and diagonals can be just as easy to navigate!

The Bishop Pair’s power is relative though. The main factor which determines its potency is whether the position is open or closed. Bishops need space, and if the center is blocked and full of pawns, their power diminishes. Conversely, with every exchange and every pawn removed from the center, the bishops become more significant and their value rises.

If you have the bishop pair in a game, cherish it. Use the bishops to fulfill both defensive and attacking roles and don’t be afraid to maneuver them. Same as with rooks, occupy key squares and diagonals and extend their scope as much as possible.

Playing against the bishop pair is relatively hard depending on the nature of the position. If your opponent has the bishop pair, your goal should be to keep the position as closed as possible for as long as possible to make the bishops less powerful. Closed positions will also amplify the strength of your knights since it will grant them strong squares and outposts to lash on to.

Bishops are wonderful pieces and having two of them is considered to be a major asset. So don’t give up your bishops lightly. Think about whether the exchange will favor you or not.

#chess

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *