When players have one Bishop each, and these Bishops move on the same colored squares, we have a Bishops of Same Color Imbalance. Both in the middlegame and the endgame, pawns play a very important role in this type of position, as they heavily influence the mobility of both Bishops, and thus often define who ultimately benefits from this type of imbalance. In the diagram above, for example, pawns are fixed in a way that heavily favors White.
Ideas for when the remaining Bishops are of the Same Color: (1) Place your pawns on squares of a different color than your Bishop's, and ensure they are adequately protected, (2) In the endgame, support your Bishop with your King, (3) If you are in a worse position, build a fortress with pawns of the same color as your Bishop.
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When we started adding a playful touch to chess learning, we looked through thousands of videos and hundreds of books to find the best resources out there. Here's our curated selection of the best content we encountered on Bishops of Same Color. We also included some smaller creators who are growing fast and we believe deserve your attention. Check out these resources if you want to master this type of imbalance.
In this video by Saint Louis Chess Club, GM Cristian Chirila analyzes two complex but highly engaging games in which this imbalance was at the core of the most important decisions. For intermediates and experts only.
Regardless of your skill and age, we think you’ll like this short recording by ChessBase India. Get a feeling of how it is to play this type of endgame in a real tournament.
A fantastic five-star book on endgames by Jesús de la Villa. Perfect for serious beginners and intermediates. The concept of same-color bishops is clearly explained. Don’t miss this gem. Follow all the moves with ease thanks to the interactive e-book reader.
This excellent book by Jonathan Hawkins helps you understand endgames by highlighting key "basic blocks" and using them to master various scenarios, including same-color bishop situations. It's very well written and really useful.
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