Questions tagged [minor-pieces]
The knights and the bishops are called the minor pieces, as they are typically weaker than queens and rooks.
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What to trade when there's one superior/inferior minor piece in the position?
Consider this position:
[FEN ""]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 Nbd7 7.Nf3 Ne5 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. O-O c4 12. Bg5 Be7 13. Qe2 b5 14. Rfd1 O-O 15....
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Why does Stockfish evaluate this position as completely lost?
After thinking for a minute my copy of Stockfish evaluates the position below as +4.7 for white. Why does the computer hate black's position so much?
I know that all things being equal, black should ...
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Why should White give up the bishop (pair) in this example?
Stockfish evaluates this as advantageous for White (+0.6 at depth 22), with Bxe4 being the only move retaining the advantage.
Why is this so good for White?
We give up the bishop pair
We're left with ...
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Josh Waitzkin chessmaster mastery quiz - order of check vs trade in bishop and knight endgame [closed]
Update: The computer aspect of this can be answered with showing more lines such as in the lichess engine where Bxh3 is strongly preferable to a5+.
Note: See this meta post. In re the answer of Brian ...
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Is the exchange of a rook for two minor pieces really worth it?
I recently played a game with my friend I wish I had memorized the entire game, but, unfortunately, my memory isn’t too good.
In summary, I was in a really tight position, and playing as black. I had ...
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Examples of harmony?
Recently my chess tutor used a word which in hindsight is very interesting: harmony. He mentioned I should not just develop my pieces in the opening, but develop them harmoniously. Since then, I've ...
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Why is the rook worth 5 points while the bishop is only worth 3?
Why is the rook worth 5 points while the bishop is only worth 3? Rooks only move straight, but bishops only move diagonally. Is there something that makes moving straight advantageous to moving ...
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Reasons why king and rook mate quicker than king, knight/bishop and bishop?
When I was very young I remember learning the point values of the pieces. And then I ran into something very confusing.
I was able to learn king and rook vs king mates pretty easily, but king and 2 ...
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Minimum sets of pieces required for checkmate?
What are the minimum sets of pieces required for checkmate when the opponent has no other piece that the king?
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N vs. B ending, pawns on both sides
I had this position today, with White to play:
[FEN "8/1p3kpp/p1n1p3/3p4/3P4/1P2B3/P2K1PPP/8 w - - 0 25"]
What should White's plan be to try and win, and are there any particular pawn structures ...
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Can Black save this Knight vs Bishop endgame with a pawn down?
After playing horribly in the opening, my opponent played a couple of suboptimal moves which suddenly allowed me to exchange some pieces and get the following unclear position.
I thought about giving ...
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How can black exploit this lead in development?
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Ng5 O-O 6.Bxf7 Rxf7 7.Nxf7 Kxf7
I understand that black should aim for d7-d5 to open up the game, but what else? Are piece exchanges good or bad? Can I get a ...
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Did Richard Teichmann fail to take his "bishop pair" idea to its logical conclusion?
Playing Black in a game against J.R. Capablanca, Richard Teichmann accepted an isolated queen pawn as the price for getting a bishop pair
On move 20, White played Nf5, attacking his black squared ...
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Are two knights generally worth less than two bishops?
A bishop and knight are considered to be about equal in value (three points each). There are even some (closed) positions, where a single knight is worth more than a "bad" bishop, although there are ...
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Is a bishop less than half the value of a bishop pair?
In valuing a rook, I observe that a rook on the open board commands 15 squares; his own and seven others in each direction. Divide by three and you get a value of 5.
In valuing a knight, I observe ...
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Which are better, Knights or Bishops?
I have always thought Bishops were better - I know that a KBB vs. K endgame is easily won, whereas KNB vs. K is difficult, and KNN vs. K is impossible; but then again, some people prefer Knights. I ...
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What are the reasons why I should not try to take a Knight with my Bishop if it'll result in doubled pawns?
For instance, in the Ruy Lopez, after
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
why shouldn't I take the Knight?
4 Bxc6 dxc6
Now Black has a doubled pawn.
It isn't a very popular line of play, ...
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