Why is rook more powerful than bishop?

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Avatar of JowinSathianesan

Why is rook more powerful than bishop because if we see the no of squares a rook can go to no of squares around it which a bishop can go  is the same??Undecided

Avatar of Elona

A rook and king can give checkmate while a bishop and king or knight and king cannot.

Avatar of Titos75
JowinSathianesan wrote:

Why is rook more powerful than bishop because if we see the no of squares a rook can go to no of squares around it which a bishop can go  is the same??


That's not true. A bishop can only reach half the squares. Which automatically explains why the rook is the stronger piece in most situations.

Avatar of Elona

Also because Bishops only influence their own color.

Avatar of dalecowboy2012
In my opinion it is because a rook can control twice as many squares as a bishop as it has access to both black and white squares
Avatar of Azukikuru

"Half the squares" is not accurate: a rook can always reach 14 squares (without obstacles in the way) while a bishop can reach anywhere between 7 and 13 squares depending on its position. All other considerations here cited are accurate, though.

EDIT: "Anywhere between" meaning 7, 9, 11, or 13.

Avatar of furtiveking
Azukikuru wrote:

"Half the squares" is not accurate: a rook can always reach 14 squares (without obstacles in the way) while a bishop can reach anywhere between 7 and 13 squares depending on its position. All other considerations here cited are accurate, though.

EDIT: "Anywhere between" meaning 7, 9, 11, or 13.


What is meant by "Half the squares" is that a bishop only ever has access to 32 squares, where as the rook can reach any of the 64 squares on the board.

Avatar of Azukikuru

Ah, I see. I thought we were talking about the reach on one move. Both are important considerations, I guess.

Avatar of Artsew

Rooks ain't always more powerfull though Laughing

Sorry, I just had to do this... Embarassed

Avatar of AncientChess
Artsew wrote:

Rooks ain't always more powerfull though

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry, I just had to do this...


 +1

Avatar of DrSeRRoD

I must be missing something here.

It seems that if white had 2 rooks instead of 2 bishops, mate would be much easier/quicker and if black had a rook instead of that bishop, that piece would not be trapped. Laughing So yes, rook > bishop in most cases (except in extreme circumstances just like one can argue that pawn > rook or bishop on the 7th rank)

Avatar of Artsew
DrSeRRoD wrote:

I must be missing something here.

It seems that if white had 2 rooks instead of 2 bishops, mate would be much easier/quicker and if black had a rook instead of that bishop, that piece would not be trapped.  So yes, rook > bishop in most cases (except in extreme circumstances just like one can argue that pawn > rook or bishop on the 7th rank)


 Following your logic.  The following diagram proofs a Bishop is much stronger then a rook. Tongue out

Avatar of DrSeRRoD

In that scenario, indeed it would be (heck a PAWN would be better than a rook in that scenario). Move the rook one space left or up to the dark squares (something a bishop could not do) and once again, the rook proves to be mightier.

Regardless, I'm sure we know in general what pieces are more valuable due to their power and mobility and in which scenario they are not. Laughing At least the OP's question was answered in the process of the thread as well.

Avatar of Elona

Basicaly, Rooks rule!

Avatar of Aldenhope

Bishops or Rooks?

Imagine that u only got ur King & Rook/Bishop.. who could Chekmated?

I'll go for my Rooks.

Avatar of Z33Liam

Honestly, I think it has a lot to do with endgame ability.

Avatar of iguessthisisagoodname

Have you seen rooks go full pac-man mode on pieces? A bishop can only access 32 squares but rooks can access 64. And rooks are almighty in endgames( I think that is because rooks are located in corners and most people don't bother to develop them so they survive till the endgame). However, bishops can be better in some circumstances. For eg- your opponent is castled and you wanna mate them, so you line up your bishop and your queen on the same diagonal. This can be done with a rook but its harder.

 

Avatar of mrbreeze404

Hey fellow Players!  My question is::  Why do chess engines/reviews usually recommend Exchanging Queens??  

Avatar of Rory_Mcgillicudy_sucks
Because rooks can go anywhere,but the bishop can’t.
Avatar of probably4000

becouse rocks can move in a straight line and bishops are resstricted to diaginals