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Chess Piece Values Explained: Pawn, Knight, Bishop, Rook, Queen

Tap a piece to see its value and traits.

Pawn β€” 1 point

The most basic unit piece, against which the value of every other piece is measured.

Knight β€” 3 points

Moves in a distinctive L-shape and can jump over other pieces, making it especially powerful in cramped positions.

Bishop β€” 3 points

Moves only diagonally and shares roughly the same value as the knight, but tends to be more effective than a knight in open positions.

Rook β€” 5 points

A powerful piece that moves freely along ranks and files, growing even more valuable as the game heads into the endgame.

Queen β€” 9 points

The most powerful piece on the board, able to move horizontally, vertically, and diagonally.

King β€” no point value (infinite value)

Because losing the king ends the game, it can't be assigned a point value β€” its worth is absolute, even though its own mobility is limited to one square at a time.

A Benchmark for Judging Piece Trades

Piece values aren't an official chess rule, but a traditional benchmark that helps players quickly judge whether trading different pieces is a gain or a loss. It's worth remembering, though, that in actual play these values aren't absolute β€” a piece's position and how actively it's being used matter just as much.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is stronger, the bishop or the knight?

They share the same point value, but a knight β€” which can jump over other pieces β€” tends to be stronger in cramped positions, while a bishop, with its long-range diagonal reach, tends to be stronger on an open board.

Is trading a queen for a rook and a knight a good deal?

On paper it looks close (9 points versus 8), but in practice how favorable the trade is can swing a lot depending on the pieces' positions and the state of the rest of the board.