What the pieces are worth
Points that help you judge a trade, and why a checkmate beats them all.
The idea
Points tell you if a trade is good, but a checkmate beats them all.
- The queen, worth the most, gives check on the back rank.
- The rook must take her, so White is behind on points.
- But this rook takes back with checkmate, and mate ends the game.
In a game: Before you trade, count the points you give and the points you get.
How the lesson begins
To decide whether a trade is good, players count points. A pawn is worth 1, a knight or a bishop 3, a rook 5 and a queen 9. The king cannot be traded, because losing it ends the game.
These are guides, not laws: a piece is worth more or less depending on the position. But they are a good place to start.
A question
A rook is worth 5 points and a knight 3. If you give up a rook to win a knight, how many points do you lose?
Show the answer
2 points.
Right. You give 5 and receive 3. Giving a rook for a knight or a bishop is called losing the exchange.