Originally posted by wittywonka I know that knights and bishops have equal point value, but I want [b]opinions...
Who thinks a knight is better? A bishop? Why?[/b]
It's nice to have this question on the forums every third months or so... 🙂
With the risk of annoying you, I do not think it is an opinion, but a fact which is best in a given position. Knights and Bishops are two different tools (like the poster before me perhaps tried to hint you with), you use them in different situations.
Some consider Knights to be more versatile for developing position at the start of the game and bishops better to have in later stages of play across long diagonals. Personally I will usually exchange my Knights for opponents Bishops, unless there are positional advantages to be gained through the reverse exchange.
Here are some opinions by some players a good deal stronger than anyone who is likely to respond to this thread:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_piece_point_value
I think Fischer thought that a bishop was worth 3.5 compared to 3.0 for a knight.
I was intrigued by Larry Kaufman's comments in the Wikipedia article.
Some players handle certain pieces better than others. For example I know of two very attacking players who are experts at maneuvering their knights and queen into a mating attack. The weaker of the two (about the same ECF grade as me but completely different style of playing) fully recognises his strengths and will happily trade off his bishops for his opponent's knights early in the game.
I like bishops because of their range. Rarely will I play a game with a closed position in which case I would love knights. Sometimes I like to have a bishop and a knight but usually I prefer the bishop pair and will gladly trade my knights for my opponents bishops if the position is open.
On an empty chess board the bishops own the knights, and (usually) the longer the game progresses the emptier the board becomes.
The good part about knights is if you can penetrate them behiend the opponents pawn chain they can often wreak havoc... but if you can block them from entering they are more timid.
Originally posted by Golub It's nice to have this question on the forums every third months or so... 🙂
With the risk of annoying you, I do not think it is an opinion, but a fact which is best in a given position. Knights and Bishops are two different tools (like the poster before me perhaps tried to hint you with), you use them in different situations.
Which is better...a knight or a bishop?
08 Dec '06 22:21
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