I think this game gives an example of how strong bishops can be in an open position. What do you think?

http://lichess.org/analyse/cybm89k7/black

The bishop pair is a well-known endgame and middle-game advantage, but in my experience, if you like to practice with them, you should try out a plain, 2 bishops endgame.

Something like:
[FEN "4k3/8/8/8/8/8/8/2B1KB2 w - - 0 1"]

I think is the right FEN. :D

For a version of the initial startup position with everything removed from the board except the two kings and White's bishops.

Because it's two pieces and not one, technically the bishops are so powerful together that you can figure out the perfect moves harder than you could with a King-and-rook-versus-King endgame, but it's probably harder to derivatively learn for oneself.

Always love the pin bishops create!

-----------------------------------------------------

http://lichess.org/analyse/2lqpaekg/black

This is one of my favourite games played on lichess. You can see after 21... Be6, my bishops become extremely annoying.

With the white king in the centre of the board, he becomes locked in between and subjected to both rooks and bishops (very aesthetically pleasing, imo).

Please don't mind my inaccurate analysis in spectator chat. I'll have to relook over the moves seeing that lichess engine indicates some of my moves were dubious (not that I didn't know my games are filled with inaccuracies already).