How does having two bishops trump two knights?
Theoretically, shouldn't it be even if knights and bishops are worth the same?
Piece value is relative and is commonly accepted that bishops are usually slightly more valuable. Of course it all depends on the position.
I get what you two are saying, but depending on the position knights are even better than rooks. I am not talking about unique position, I am talking about the fact that every piece is given a value and that the value of the bishops should be higher than knights because they are statistically a better piece. Fisher for an example wanted to increase the value of bishops to 3.5.
3.25*
If there's game on both sides of the board or when the center is open, bishops are usually better. If the position is clustered or there's game on only one side of the board, then knights are better.
Also the pair of bishops are usually better than the pair of knights but one bishop alone is more equal to a knight
And as usual, this simply isn't relevant. It is trivial to show Knights are better than Bishops in some positions. Bishops are better than Knights in others.
Open Positions tend to favor Bishops.
Alltheusernamestaken makes a good point.
Positions with imbalances on both wings tend to favor Bishops, because they can often defend one wing while pressuring the other. Knights usually cannot.
A plausible hypothesis states that knights increase in strength in fast disciplines. The knight is more unpredictable, compared to the bishop.
What do you think of this one?
stockfish loves knights
It uses e4 so much
knights are almost 3 points
Basically Bishop = 3 pawns and Knight = 3 pawns
Then IMO :
a : 2 Bishops vs 2 Knights in open position = best 2 Bishops
b : 2 Bishops vs 2 Knights in closed position = best 2 Knights
c : Bishop and pawns vs Knight and pawns in endgame = rather best Knight (because Knight can attack pawns on white or black squares and not Bishop who is condemned to be able to attack only the pawns on the same color as him)
Well, from what I have seen when watching commentary by Grand Masters they always seem to favor bishops over knights...