How much would the King be worth?

Originally posted by vivify
Let's suppose we were to rate the king based purely on it's ability to move, the same we judge the other pieces. How much would the King be worth? Would you say it would be worth more or less than the knight?

Based on nothing else but the King's ability to move, I'd say it's worth maybe 2.5 points.

Imagine it another way that keeps the king's absolute value and so retains that essential element of the game: How much will the queen be worth if her moves are the same as the king's -- but she is expendable, can give check directly, and can move into and/or remain en garde, none of which apply to the king (noting that she cannot castle)?

Originally posted by vivify
Let's suppose we were to rate the king based purely on it's ability to move, the same we judge the other pieces. How much would the King be worth? Would you say it would be worth more or less than the knight?

Based on nothing else but the King's ability to move, I'd say it's worth maybe 2.5 points.

Stronger than a minor piece + 1 pawn. Only Slightly weaker than a rook.

Originally posted by Bahari
Stronger than a minor piece + 1 pawn. Only Slightly weaker than a rook.

ding ding ding ding...we have a winner! 4 it is.}

Originally posted by bill718
ding ding ding ding...we have a winner! 4 it is.}

To be pedantic, 4 is not an element of (4,5)

infinite as you have to protect the king.
It's worth 4 pawns though if you look at it strictly from a material standpoint.

Originally posted by davaniel
You can't force a pawn and queen mate either

This position can be forced easily enough.


I'm not sure if you can do it with a d or e pawn though.

Originally posted by bill718
ding ding ding ding...we have a winner! 4 it is.}

The King is worth 4 points. I would not want to have a lone King vs 3 pawns.

Interesting question. I always gave the K a value of 2.5 but must admit that's inadequate.

Though it may be only an acedemic exercise, compare 2 Kings v 1 King to King+Minor Piece v King in the ability to bully the opposing King around the board. It's far easier to manipulate the opposing King with 2 Kings.

A value of 4 seems reasonable, but I'd hate to go up against 4 pawns with only my King, even if the opposing King is off in a corner and out of play.

So I suggest his value is more than 3 but not quite 4 ?!

http://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-piece-value

I found this article interesting. 🙂

Originally posted by Schumi
I'm not sure if you can do it with a d or e pawn though.

You can't, AFAICT. That's why I noted that the pawn needs to be well-placed.
Of course, with the pawn on any file, you can use the queen to corral the king away from it and then promote the pawn, with an instant mate, but that wasn't really the point.

Richard

Originally posted by Blackeyed Pawn
A value of 4 seems reasonable, but I'd hate to go up against 4 pawns with only my King, even if the opposing King is off in a corner and out of play.

Connected pawns, or isolated? Back at row 7, or all the way down the board at rows 2-4? Four connected pawns at their opponent's half of the board are worth much, much more than four "pawns". Four isolated ones back on their own home squares, in the end game when the king is free to attack, are worth nearly diddly-squat.

Richard