The bishop pair is worth 71⁄2, half a pawn more than the individual values of its constituent bishops combined.
Is a bishop more valuable than a knight?
The Bishops and Knights are worth 3 points but it is generally considered that the Bishops are worth slightly more than the Knights. In positions where the centre is blocked by pawns, Knights (that can jump over these pawns) can be better than Bishops that need open diagonals to function efficiently.
How are Knight vs knight endgames similar to pawn endgames?
In many ways, knight vs knight endgames are similar to pure pawn endgames, as the knight is a fairly slow piece. Usually, the side with an extra pawn will win, just as in pawn endgames, and the technique is much the same – centralise your king and knight, and push your pawns where you have a majority to create a passed pawn.
When is a bishop and pawn not enough to win?
There is even an infamous case where a bishop and pawn against a bare king are not enough to win. If the pawn is a rook pawn, and the queening square of the pawn is of the opposite colour to the bishop’s square, then it is actually impossible to force the enemy king out of the corner, as the following example shows: 1. Kg6 Kh8 2. Kf7 1…
Is it possible to win opposite coloured bishop endgame?
Opposite coloured bishop endgames are notorious for their drawishness. It can be impossible to win, even when you are two pawns up. The problem is that the enemy king and bishop can make a blockade on the opposite coloured square to your bishop, leaving you with no way to break through.
What are the endgames of King and pawn chess?
Most King and pawn endgames are based on knowing how to checkmate with Queen and King, making sure that you know what to do with that pawn you’ll be trying to promote. Key here is making sure that you don’t stalemate the opposing King all while gradually trapping him towards the edge of the board.
