What is Material?

material refers to the total value of a player's remaining pieces on the board. This value is calculated based on a standard scale for each type of piece: 1 point for pawns, 3 points for knights and bishops, 5 points for rooks, and 9 points for queens. The king, although invaluable in terms of the game, is often given an arbitrary high value like infinity. This term could also refer to the pieces themselves. The concept of material helps players evaluate their relative standing in the game.