Same-Colored Bishop Endgames

How to Play This Endgame

When both bishops operate on the same color, the key factor is which bishop is more active. A 'good bishop' has its pawns on the opposite color, keeping diagonals open. A 'bad bishop' is blocked by its own pawns. In these endgames, pawn structure often determines the winner long before the endgame begins — a reason why pawn play in the middlegame matters so much.

Practice Tips

• →Set up the B+PP vs B+PP position on a board and practice against a friend or engine.
• →Focus on the key concept: Good bishop vs bad bishop. Understanding the principle matters more than memorizing exact moves.
• →Upload your endgame positions to chess.rodeo for free Stockfish analysis — see where you went wrong and what the engine recommends.

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