How valuable each piece is?
Chess piece values give us a relative worth for each piece. This information helps us determine what piece should be traded for another piece, how we evaluate an exchange, and even how computer engines evaluate a position!
These point values don't determine who wins a game (the goal of chess is to deliver checkmate, not to capture the most pieces). However, chess piece values give us a good idea of which player is better or winning, or if the position is level.
A pawn is worth one point, a knight or bishop is worth three points, a rook is worth five points and a queen is worth nine points.
The king is the only piece that doesn't have a point value. This is because the king cannot be captured (an attacked king is in check), and also because checkmating the king is the true goal of any chess game.
