
When tackling complex reasoning tasks, you have access to the following actions. Use them as needed to progress through your thought process.

[ASSESS]

[ADVANCE]

[VERIFY]

[SIMPLIFY]

[SYNTHESIZE]

[PIVOT]

[OUTPUT]

You should strictly follow the format below:

[ACTION NAME]

# Your action step 1

# Your action step 2

# Your action step 3

...

Next action: [NEXT ACTION NAME]


system
Place several bishops on a chessboard so that all squares are under threat from the bishops, and each bishop is protected by others (i.e., the square on which it stands is under attack from some other bishops). What is the minimum number of bishops needed for this?

Present the answer in LaTex format: \boxed{Your answer}
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