I think that in the endgame, three pawns are very powerfull, but in the middlegame and opening a minor pieces is best. Which you say??

like in most of this kind of question the honest answer its:

"it depend on the circumstances"

In the opening and middle game, yes, the minor piece is worth more than three pawns. In combination with other pieces and remaining pawns, the piece can be very important for attack and creating weaknesses, whereas pawns are slow and , especially if they're isolated or doubled, can be very weak.

However, in the endgame, even two pawns can be worth a piece if your opponent has no other pawns on the board himself, and three pawns and a king vs king and piece is almost guarunteed to be winning. So, yes, "it depends".

the closer you get to the end of the game, the more pawns are worth.  I would rather have two passed pawns than a rook even.

grensley wrote: the closer you get to the end of the game, the more pawns are worth.  I would rather have two passed pawns than a rook even.

---

 That really depends on how far advanced the pawns are. If they aren't advanced enough, a rook and a king can beat even two connected passed pawns.

grensley wrote: the closer you get to the end of the game, the more pawns are worth.  I would rather have two passed pawns than a rook even.

---

 What? I dont think King + 2 pawns can win against King + rook. 

 By the way 

if it is a three connected pawn (not isoloted or double).. then i choose 3 pawns.. doesnt matter either it is in the opening, middlegame or endgame.

Gaby wrote:

I think that in the endgame, three pawns are very powerfull, but in the middlegame and opening a minor pieces is best. Which you say??

---

 I'm with him, in opening minor pieces are better to eat up the pawns and things, while pawns support some little help, in the middlegame pawns are still handy, but the minor pieces are better, but in the endgame, the pawns is really, really powerful and the close it get to become a minor piece the more mysteriously dangerous will get, and during endgame try protecting the pawns with your minor pieces that you have.