John Skelly is the owner of Quality-Chess.net, an online chess store found at http://www.quality-chess.net, where you can browse for a variety of fine chess products, including a wide array of wood and metal chess pieces.
If you haven’t been playing chess for a long time, you might be wondering which of the following two pieces is a “better” chess piece: the knight or the bishop. Many novice chess players think that they know the answer, but do they really?
Everyone seems to have a different clever answer. Some people think that just because each has a value of three that the pieces themselves are of the same value to a won chess game. The answer to the question of which piece is better depends completely on the way the players are playing the game and which chess pieces remain on the chess board.
The bishop and the knight are two chess pieces that work very differently and have different advantages and disadvantages. The bishop clearly has a longer range and mobility is very important in the development of a chess piece. The weakness of the bishop is that its mobility is essentially useless if the player does not have control of the center. This is when the knight becomes more valuable because of the unique “L” shape in which it moves. It is an excellent piece to have with a closed center. This is when the knight has more mobility.
In positions where the bishop is in an open center, it can really do some damage because of its long range to move over the board. On the other hand, the knight’s advantage of being able to hop over pieces isn’t much use with an open center and its disadvantage is one of slow movement. The knight is more valuable in the beginning and the middle of a chess game because there are far more chess pieces on the board and this causes the spaces to become crowded. Towards the end of the game, when each piece has more mobility, the knight’s weakness is more exposed.
Another aspect that should be taken into account, when discussing whether a bishop is a more valuable piece than a knight, is how bishops and knights work differently in pairs. These kinds of combinations have to be considered not only with their similar pair, but with pairs of other chess pieces. For example, you should consider whether it is better to have a rook and a knight versus a rook and a bishop.
Ultimately, the value of any chess piece is subject to its position on the chess board as well as the position of the chess pieces surrounding it.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- How to Get Started in the Fascinating World of Playing Chess Games
- Win More Chess Games by Using Your Entire Brain Capacity -- A Secret Technique
- Win More Chess Games by Meditating
- Alternate Rules For Chess Games
- Chiropractic Can Improve Your Chess Game
- Different Styles Of Chess Games
- Tips for Making the Best Chess Games Ever But Avoid Judgment Errors
- Easy Learning Chess With This Board Game
Have A Deep Understanding Of Your Chess Pieces
By: David Powers | 28/11/2009Chess is not a hard game to learn. If you desire to win games however, you should practice a lot and learn from your games. When it comes to chess you could say that it has some similarities to life, since one good or bad move can influence your entire game or life.
How To Become A Better Chess Player
By: David Powers | 27/11/2009What can you do to improve your chess skills? Certainly you can improve chess game through practice. Even before 1886, when the first world championship of chess was created, the game of chess was very competitive.
The Beauty of A Civil War Chess Set
By: David Powers | 26/11/2009Chess is a great game which is based on war. According to Bobby Fischer, the purpose of chess is to “crush your opponents mind”. Chess is a fun game which can take quite a bit of time so you need a bit of patience. It is important to stay focused and create and follow certain strategies, which is pretty similar to real wars.
Play Your Next Chess Game On A Marble Set
By: David Powers | 25/11/2009Chess is by some considered to be a complicated game while those who know how to play it find it exciting and fun. You will always find the same pieces in a chess set, unless of course you misplaced some pieces. The chess pieces used are kings, queens, bishops, towers, knights and pawns.
LeapFrog Imagination Desk
By: SLBGlorioso | 24/11/2009The LeapFrog Imagination Desk Learning System teaches your child how to color and play. Kids can color the 26 alphabet pages included, and bring them to life. They can also learn sounds and letter names, fun facts, counting and numbers.
The Versatility of Magnetic Chess Sets
By: David Powers | 24/11/2009Even those who have never seen a chess board will be able to learn how to play the game of chess, but mastering it fully is something different. Nobody became great at chess overnight. However, Rome wasn’t built in one day.
An Introduction Into Collecting Chess Sets
By: David Powers | 22/11/2009Chess is a wonderful game played by millions of people worldwide. Chess is agreat way to be interact with others on an intellectual level. Then there are many that just want to have some fun while for others it just remains a hobby. In fact, there are many people all over the world who like to collect different chess sets.
Learn The Differences Between Chess Sets
By: David Powers | 21/11/2009Chess is a popular board game which is played by two people. The game, as we know it today, emerged in the southern part of Europe during the 15th century. The European chess evolved from a similar but much older Indian game.
Equal Chess Pieces Might Not Be So Equal
By: John Skelly | 23/09/2009 | Board GamesLearn how to distinguish which chess piece is better when each has the same numeric value. Stated another way, not all chess pieces are created equal, even if they seem to be equal.
Magnetic Chess: A Different Way of Playing
By: John Skelly | 23/09/2009 | Board GamesIf you like to play chess and want to play a different variation, consider playing magnetic chess.
Learn Three Basic Steps To Win At Chess
By: John Skelly | 23/09/2009 | Board GamesLearn the three things that are fundamental to winning at chess. Knowing the power of your chess pieces will help you control the chess board. If you don’t get these elements, nothing else matters.
Chess Pieces and the Rules of Movement
By: John Skelly | 23/09/2009 | Board GamesThinking about learning how to play chess? The first step is to gain a good understanding of the capabilities and limitations of each of your chess pieces.
Two Important Elements To Help You Win At Chess
By: John Skelly | 23/09/2009 | Board GamesYes, there are many different strategies and tactics you can use to win your chess games. But there are two things that are necessary to actually execute your strategies and tactics.
Improve Your Chess Games with Chess Tricks and Traps
By: John Skelly | 23/09/2009 | Board GamesIf you want to improve your chess game, learn the basics first. But once you get the basics, don’t stop there. Move on to learning some chess tricks and traps.
How To Choose The Best Chess Set For You
By: John Skelly | 23/09/2009 | Board GamesCan’t decide on what type of chess set to acquire? The choices are endless, but there are some general guidelines you should consider to help you make the right choice.
Timing Your Chess Games With A Chess Clock
By: John Skelly | 23/09/2009 | Board GamesAre you getting bored with your chess games? Infuse some added competition and excitement by timing your moves with a chess clock.