Without color lock, a bishop would be worth four pawns.
What is better : bishop or knight ?
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Knights start stronger than bishops, but they decline in value as the game continues. I prefer to sacrifice my knights for bishops. Two bishops have an advantage over two knights or a knight and bishop. So I think that bishops are better. In fact, I rate bishops quarter a pawn higher than a knight.
A lone knight is 2 pawns against a bare king. Two knights is worth 3.5 pawns and cannot force mate. Yet 3 knights is worth 9 pawns and can force mate.
A lone bishop is 2.5 pawns vs bare king. Bishop pair is worth 7 pawns. Two or more same color bishops is 3.5 pawns vs bare king.
Knights and bishops are never equal. They do two different things. What is equal is their perceived material value.
Beug
Apr 14, 2023
0
#32
the modern approach is, depends on the position but when in doubt choose bishop.
The value of pieces is not just based on their inherent characteristic but synergy with other pieces. Bishops of different colors synergize naturally whereas knights are very particular when they synergize.
the problem is, suppose you had a good knight and a bishop vs two bishops. Even if the knight is a monster. the side with the two bishops just needs to swap one bishop for the knight , likely on an outpost to equalize. But if two bishops are good the two pieces drawing chances depend on trying to force a trade which is not alwayss possible if the bishops have good mobility. The situations where two knights are superior to two bishops are fairly rare.
in an opening you almost ways need something extra to trade bishop for knight. you need to damage pawn structure, get a hold of key squares,gain tempo, etc. Bishops are simply less particular as to when they prove advantageous.
Knights
I think that which piece is more powerful depends on the situation. If there are less pieces on the board then the bishop is more valuable , but if there are more pieces on the board then the knight as it can fork more easily because it can jump pieces.