The One-Diagonal Principle suggests that controlling a long diagonal with a Bishop is often more effective than controlling two shorter diagonals. This principle emphasizes the power of a Bishop when it can maintain both defensive and attacking roles along the same diagonal, rather than being overloaded with the task of controlling two different intersecting diagonals. In such cases, the Bishop risks being chased away from the intersection, and forced to give up one of the diagonals. In the diagram above, White plays 1.Bc2 to successfully dominate the b1-h7 diagonal, defending the f5-pawn while preventing Black's pawns advance.
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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 the Principle of One Diagonal. 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 powerful technique.
This lesson by GM Bojkov is part of a wider Chess.com series on Opposite Colored Bishop Endgames. Excellent material for intermediate and expert players. At the end, train on the One-Diagonal Principle challenges.
This book by world experts Müller, Lamprecht, John Nunn is subtitled "The Endgame Encyclopaedia for the 21st Century" for good reason. It is comprehensive and thorough. Ideal for serious intermediates and expert players alike.
This book by the legendary Mark Dvoretsky is *THE* definitive guide to endgames. You could spend years studying it. The principle of one diagonal is included. It’s an absolute must-have for your library!
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