Ok.  Everybody has a different oppinon on this subject and I want to know what you guys think.  Which do you prefer? Knights or Bishops?  I tend to prefer knights because they a very good for forks, they can be useful in the endgame, and they can just be plain ANNOYING to your opponent if used correctly.  On the other hand,  Bishops are very good for scewers and pins.  Also bishops can be very helpful in the endgame but that can depend on what color bishop is still in play.  Bishops can be annoying (but sometimes not as much as knights depending on what stage of the game you are in), but again in my oppinion knights are better.

It does depend on what position you are in. Some positions call for trading bishops for knights, and others knights for bishops. But I do like Bishops more than Knights.

In the endgame, knights are most often inferior to bishops, though they are sometimes superior to rooks.

My favorite piece is always the one that best fits the position. The horsey fits this criteria less often than the cleric, but sometimes satisfies the needs exceptionally well.

In general, knights are better in closed positions. But, a seemingly closed position may not remain so, as my opponent Thursday night learned to his detriment.

Both of you are right.  But in the beginning of the game,  which do you prefer?

oops. I mean the three of you are right I only saw the first 2 comments.

Of course it depends on the position as usual, but I as a generalisation I would say that

60% of the time, the bishop is better, and

40% of the time the knight is better

give or take 5%

Position aside I am generally better at Knight tactics and tend to prefer them for that reason.  I'd never make a decision to trade one for the other, however, based on anything but what the position called for.

65% Knight

25% Bishop

10% Well... you decide

Bishop beats knight by about .1 pawn

However, I prefer knights by about .1 pawn

As a beginner, getting the idea into your head that you prefer one of the minor pieces, and therefore trade the other ones off, is usually not a good idea. You are still to lousy to make the calls that the position demands. As a beginner, playing into your strengths (which frankly, doesn't exists) is a waste of time since you need improvements in all aspects of the game, not only the aspects you think you are already good at.

Knights are more fun, but Bishops are probably more useful.

Neither. I consciously avoid having such a counterproductive preference until the position dictates.

In some lines (the anti-Meran for instance), I sometimes will seek to trade my bishop for my opponent's knight in order to gain a tempo and draw his/her queen to an unfavorable location. In certain other lines I will eagerly pursue having the bishop pair, even if one bishop is temporarily "bad" (French Defense).

Knights are better than bishops 50% of the time, and bishops better than knights 50% of the time. Plus or minus 50%. :P

depends on the situation if the trading is worthwhile.NormallyI prefer to trade the threatening knight with the defense bishop,and trade the threatening bishop with the bit isloated knight.the worth of bishop is a bit higher than knight,specially the bishop pair in the end game.to be more precise,if a knight or bishop can cooperate with other pieces to attack or defense one position,then trading with such piece would not be a wise choice.However,if after trading we can have a position advantage and keep capturing,it would be a good choice.

Once again, you guys really help, but im still not sure I understand when and when not to trade a bishop for a knight.  Luxembourg helped, but I still dont really understand.

Help,

Ilikecheese97

The point is there are no clear cut rules, only guidelines. You have to judge each position seperately for yourself.

OK...  I think I get it...  I THINK...

Ok people say knights in tight and bishops in open, but I find when it's a closed postion in about 2 seconds I need my BISHOP!(and reversed for my knight!)  How am I supposed to figure out what and when to trade? Do I go bshop for knight or knight for bishop?  People also say go by the dgree of which the knight or bishop is attacking or defending but I still think I'm stuck.