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bishop & knight = rook

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16th September 2007, 12:42am
#1
by Puc_7
Sydney, Australia Australia
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 128

I ve played against a few players now. who are willing to sacrifice there bishop and knight for one of my rooks. I'm happy with the exchange. I know it depends a lot on what other pieces i have. But if i still have one rook and my queen. I'm always happy to swap.

Your thoughts? 


16th September 2007, 12:45am
#2
by Puppaz
UK United Kingdom
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 614
Usually I'd agree with you, in general. Ofcourse it depends on the specific situation and the position afterwards.
16th September 2007, 01:28am
#3
by Ray_Brooks
Heart of Darkness England
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 2138
Anyone giving you knight and bishop for a rook, without other palpable advantage, has given you the equivalent of a pawn, in strictly material terms. Moreover, most players (myself included) prefer knight and bishop to rook and pawn in most positions.
16th September 2007, 02:05am
#4
by likesforests
United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 4407

If the rook is worth 5.0 pawns, the bishop/knight are worth 3.25 pawns, and the bishop pair are worth 0.50 pawns... they've given you 7 pawns for 5 pawns.

 

"It’s rarely a good idea to give up two minor pieces for a Rook, and even for a Rook and a pawn. Only if there is a Rook and two pawns for the two minor pieces will the minor piece exchanger have an advantage. In fact, Steinitz claimed that the Bishop pair is superior to Rook and two pawns." -- Soltis



Don't worry, be happy!  :)


16th September 2007, 11:31am
#5
by UberCryxic
Albania
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 27
As others have mentioned, you need to analyze the specific position before making a decision like that. Sometimes it can be a good, even great, idea to sack two minor pieces for a rook, and other times it can backfire. Tal was probably the best practitioner of those kinds of exchanges; look at some of his games to get a feel for when you should make such sacrifices.
16th September 2007, 12:04pm
#6
by likesforests
United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 4407

 

 


16th September 2007, 12:09pm
#7
by likesforests
United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 4407

 


16th September 2007, 12:12pm
#8
by likesforests
United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 4407
I would be happy to take the White pieces in either of these positions.  :)
16th September 2007, 12:13pm
#9
by watchthehit
LA United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 159
right here i dont think its the best of exchanges as u loose a rook and also takes that pawn which protects the castled king
16th September 2007, 12:41pm
#10
by likesforests
United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 4407

In Puc_7 vs gabc49, after the exchange White has three pieces aiming at f7. Black is completely undeveloped, his king is in the center, and his pawn is hanging. White also has the bishop pair. I wouldn't say White has a win, but he has a clear advantage.


" right here i dont think its the best of exchanges as u loose a rook and also takes that pawn which protects the castled king"

 

Yes, but Black doesn't have a dark-squared bishop to exploit White's weakness along the h7-g1 diagonal. He just gave up that piece!


16th September 2007, 12:53pm
#11
by likesforests
United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 4407

This is a more interesting position, where it's hard to say whether the rook is better, or the two minor pieces are better! But note the differences... here White doesn't also get a huge development lead or the bishop pair.




 


16th September 2007, 01:12pm
#12
by silentfilmstar13
Medford, OR United States
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 2143
The first two positions I think greatly favor white.  This last position, however, creates a close battle.  I think I would prefer to play as black here.
 

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