In short: Placing the bishop on b2 or g2 (b7 or g7 for Black) after the b- or g-pawn has moved one square.
To fianchetto is to move the b- or g-pawn one square and then put the bishop on the square behind it, where the pawn stood. For White that means g3 and Bg2, or b3 and Bb2. For Black g6 and Bg7, or b6 and Bb7.
From g7 the bishop reaches all the way to a1, along one of the two long diagonals on the board. Right now its own knight on f6 is in the way, but as soon as it moves, the diagonal opens. A fianchettoed bishop often does its work from a distance, without standing in the way of anything itself.
Pros and risks
- Long reach. The bishop aims through the center, toward the opponent's queenside.
- A safe king. After castling kingside, the bishop stands next to the king and helps protect it.
- Holes if the bishop disappears. If the fianchettoed bishop is traded off, the squares around the king, like f3 and h3 (f6 and h6 for Black), become hard to protect.
Try it yourself
The fianchetto is common in many openings, for both White and Black. Read more about them among our chess openings, and about how the bishop moves on the page about the bishop.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce fianchetto?
The word is Italian: roughly fyan-KET-toh, with the stress on KET. In English you will hear both fee-an-KET-oh and fee-an-CHET-oh.
Why do players fianchetto?
The bishop gets a long diagonal to work along and aims at the center. After castling kingside it also stands next to the king and helps protect it.
What is the long diagonal?
The two diagonals from corner to corner, a1–h8 and h1–a8. They are the only diagonals with eight squares.
Updated October 31, 2026