It appears that in an open position the bishops may be better and in a closed position maybe a bishop has more choice to exchange to a bishop / knight combination making it equal. But the bishop pair seems to have more choice in choosing to do this. Hence the half pawn advantage overall.
Two Knights Or Two Bishops
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I think molo1 you are on balance correct. Maybe as most games are decided mainly in development at opening and middle game that the two bishops are better. Are closed positions chosen more by one or both sides if seeking a draw further into the match........ 
May 13, 2016
0
#4
I forgot where I read it first, but someone made a point that closed positions tend to become open later. So I have to agree with most people, and it makes sense to me, that the bishop pair has a little extra value.
So two bishops it is then.......
Aye, two bishops all the way!
A pair of either is best imo. 2 knights or 2 bishops is better than one of each. But then, it all depends on position. :)
FirebrandX wrote:
12Knaves wrote:
A pair of either is best imo. 2 knights or 2 bishops is better than one of each. But then, it all depends on position. :)
Consider an endgame with just one side's long king the starting position and the other's two minor pieces at the starting position:
2x Bishop: Can checkmate with.
1 Bishop + 1 Knight: Can checkmate with.
2x Knights: Cannot checkmate with.
So in terms of actual checkmating power, the knight is the worst piece.
I think you mean lone
Aug 13, 2016
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#9
I'm prone to keep the bishops, but will do, what I think is best for the position, obviously.
Bishops are nice to have in endgames with pawns on both wings, they say. One may create many a mean pins with bishops as well, and they're neither cross eyed nor do they walk funny.
Is it the control of space that appeals with the two bishops....Richard Reti saw something in the bishops...not being in the center but controlling the center through diagonals...the beginning of hypermodernism......but what studies of the two knights sitting together....they cover a force field to....but not as far as the two bishops.....what power the two knights together.....or do they hop around in a closed game only....with advantage
Mar 15, 2019
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#11
One point is that a Bishop (and especially, a pair of Bishops) can influence events on both wings at once, perhaps defending one wing while putting pressure on the other. It is much harder for Knights to pull off that same trick.
This is one reason why unbalanced Pawns (say, 4 Pawns vs 3 on one flank, and 2 Pawns vs 3 on the other) tend to favor the Bishops... they can restrain the enemy Pawn majority on one flank while still assisting their own majority forward.
Many games where the opposition two knights are sitting together....particularly entering the middle game form a strong force field....but many players work the knights evenly on both sides of the board....when they form on the castled king side.....it looks like fort Knox...a defensive fortress
Mar 15, 2019
0
#13
If you have development advantage and two knights open up the position quickly before it stabilizes and the bishops take over. See NID, Rossolimo, Ruy Lope Exchange.
This open/close distinction is a bit too simplistic.
Rather pointless argument, for several reasons.
- K+2B vs K can deliver mate very easily, while K+2N vs K is a draw.
- K+2B vs K+Q generally lose (although it can take many moves), while K+2N vs K is a rather simple draw, in most of the cases.
And so it goes.
Probably discussed many times and the answer is generally equal but some say the two bishops are worth half a pawn more....many say Bishops every time.........so bishops ?
