20
to compare the relative value of the different pieces, as so much depends on the peculiarities of each position, but, generally speaking, minor pieces, Bishop and Knight, are reckoned as equal; the Rook as equal to a minor piece and one or two pawns (to have a Rook against a minor piece, is to be the "exchange" ahead). The Queen is equal to two Rooks or three minor pieces.]
--------------------------------------- 8 | | | | | #R | | #K | | |---------------------------------------| 7 | | | #P | | #R | | #P | #P | |---------------------------------------| 6 | | #P | |#Kt | | #P | | | |---------------------------------------| 5 | | | | | | | | | |---------------------------------------| 4 | | | | | ^P | | | | |---------------------------------------| 3 | | | ^P | | | |^Kt | | |---------------------------------------| 2 | ^P | ^P | ^B | | | | ^P | ^P | |---------------------------------------| 1 | | | | ^R | | ^K | | | --------------------------------------- A B C D E F G H
Diag. 5.
Chess would be an easy game if all combinations could be tested and probed exhaustively by the mathematical process just shown. But we shall find that the complications met with are extremely varied. To give the beginner an idea of this, I will mention a few of the more frequent examples. It will be seen that the calculation may be, and very frequently
--------------------------------------- 8 | | | #R | | | #R | #K | | |---------------------------------------| 7 | #P | | | | | #P | #P | #P | |---------------------------------------| 6 | | #P | #B | ^R | |#Kt | |
