Finding a balance between defending yourself and attacking your opponent in chess has always been one of the trickier parts of the game of chess. Trying to determine what role each of your pieces should play throughout the game is difficult, should a primary piece be a defender or an attacker? In regards to bishops there is a relatively easy concept that we can follow to know if we should use the bishops for defensive or offensive purposes. The attacking bishop is used to control space or remove key defenders in your opponent’s position. The defending bishop is kept close to home and helps to guard weak color complexes in your own position.

Determining whether a bishop is offensive or defensive depends upon the pawn structure that you set up in the games opening. The idea is that the attacking bishop is the one that moves on the color squares that you have placed the majority of your pawns on, the defending bishop is on the other colored squares. Once you have decided whether your bishops are attacking or defending you can use that information to decide where to place the bishops. The defending bishop should be kept near your pawn structure to help defend that pawn structure.

The attacking bishop may be used to control spaces on the board and to remove your opponents attacking pieces. It is also common that we use the attacking bishop to pin your opponent’s pieces. A pin is where you are able to threaten a primary piece of your opponents and your opponent cannot move that piece or you would be able to take a more valuable piece or place your opponent in check. Be cautious with your attacking bishop because your opponent will often use a knight to threaten or take that attacking bishop.