Chapter 02 · Beginner · 3 min

Piece values

Each piece has an approximate value: pawn 1 point, knight and bishop 3, rook 5, queen 9. The king has no point value because losing it means the game is over.

Explanation

Values are used to compare exchanges, not to recite a table like at school.

The system 1, 3, 3, 5, 9 gives a simple benchmark: pawn 1, knight 3, bishop 3, rook 5, queen 9. The king is not worth a number, because it is never exchanged. If the king is lost, the game is over.

These values are not an absolute law. A very active knight can be more useful than a locked rook. A queen can be strong, but if she is attacked everywhere, she becomes a source of stress with a crankn.

Pawn: 1 point.

Knight and bishop: 3 points.

Rook: 5 points. Queen: 9 points.

Example: exchanging a rook for a bishop often costs 2 points. So you need real compensation, like a checkmate or a big attack.

The values, clearly

These points are not an official score. They help you judge trades: am I winning material, or giving away too much?

Pawn = 1 point. Small, but it can become very dangerous near promotion.

Knight = 3 points. Strong in closed positions and annoying when it jumps into good squares.

Bishop = 3 points. Often worth about the same as a knight, especially on open diagonals.

Rook = 5 points. Very strong on open files and in the endgame.

Queen = 9 points. The most powerful piece: rook and bishop together.

King = no point value. You never trade it; you protect it.

Simple example: trading a rook for a bishop usually loses about 2 points. Trading a queen for a rook is normally a very expensive idea unless there is a tactic.

To remember

Pawn 1, knight 3, bishop 3, rook 5, queen 9. The king cannot be counted.

Classic error

Take values as an absolute law. An active piece may be worth more than a locked piece.

Player Tip

Before an exchange, do the little calculations. If you give 5 to take 3, you need a good reason.

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