Originally posted by bishops r coolsome people will tell you preference, which is bull hockey
the position itself dictates which is more important...
if it is closed, and you exchange a knight for a bishop, shame on you...
remember, experts think a bishop is worth slightly more than a knight based on THEORY
theory does not cover every position...
Originally posted by Ragnoraktrue, the bishop can deliver a lone mate in that position...
Black to move.
[fen]8/2k1b3/8/8/8/8/P7/KB6 w - - 0 6[/fen]
D
but that's about as useful as knowing the line
1. f3 e6
2. g4 Qh4++
that line is the fastest possible checkmate, but it in a trillion games of chess, either OTB or CC, this probably won't happen once
useless information...
you are making the point that something is possible, but who cares?
how many times is a king going to magically land on a1, with a pawn on a2 and a bishop on b1 with your bishop prepared to check(mate)?
Originally posted by rubberjaw30True - but even in closed position a bishop could be better than the knight depending on if it's playing an active role in the game.
some people will tell you preference, which is bull hockey
the position itself dictates which is more important...
if it is closed, and you exchange a knight for a bishop, shame on you...
remember, experts think a bishop is worth slightly more than a knight based on THEORY
theory does not cover every position...
If the knight can't get to any important squares the bishop could still be better, maybe it's blocked in but pinning something important.
Also vice versa, the position could be open and the knight could be powerfully posted and the bishop sweeps along a wide open diagonal attacking absolutely nothing.
The important thing is that knights or bishops are coordinated in an active plan with the other pieces based on the tactical elements in the position.