Bishop or Knight?

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Timoshchenko, Gennady^{; *}

Affiliations: Novosibirsk, CIS

Note: [*] The Editors gratefully acknowledge competent translation of the draft of this article by Thomas Mally, Editor-in-Chief of Modul Computer Chess Magazine, Vienna, Austria.

Abstract: The relative strengths of Bishop and Knight, a long standing problem in chess, are re-examined with the help of a database of games actually played. Capablanca’s (1921) statements are substantiated with one important qualification. Moreover, a bishop pair, it is argued, has an intrinsic bonus value independently of the relative strength of Bishops and Knights which are shown to vary considerably according to whether the position is closed (in the early game) or open (in the later game). Recommendations for the dynamic assignment of values to the Knight are given.

DOI: 10.3233/ICG-1993-16404

Journal: ICGA Journal, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 209-216, 1993