The bishop moves any number of empty squares diagonally. Each bishop stays on one colour of square for the entire game — one on light squares, one on dark. It captures diagonally and cannot jump over pieces. Because a single bishop controls only half the board's colours, the two bishops working together, known as the bishop pair, are especially strong in open positions. Place bishops on long, open diagonals where they rake across the board. Avoid blocking them behind your own pawns, which turns them into passive pieces that do little.