Chess Piece Values — How Much Is Each Piece Worth?
The point system that helps you decide when to trade and when to hold.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: When I first learned the point system, chess suddenly made more sense. Before that, I would trade my queen for a knight and wonder why I kept losing. The values are not perfect - a bishop is not always worth exactly three pawns, and a rook is not always worth exactly five - but they give you a compass. They tell you whether a trade is probably good, probably bad, or roughly even. And that compass is invaluable when you are starting out.
The Standard Point System
Chess pieces are assigned approximate point values that reflect their relative strength. These values are not part of the official rules - you will not find them in the FIDE handbook. They are a teaching tool developed over centuries to help players evaluate positions and make smart trading decisions.
The standard values are: pawn = 1 point, knight = 3 points, bishop = 3 points, rook = 5 points, and queen = 9 points. The king is not assigned a value because it cannot be captured or traded - losing it means losing the game.
Using these values, you can quickly assess whether a trade is favorable. If you give up a rook (5 points) to capture a bishop (3 points), you have lost the "exchange" - you are down 2 points of material. If you give up a knight (3 points) to capture a rook (5 points), you have "won the exchange." These quick calculations form the backbone of practical chess decision-making.
Material Advantage in Action
In this position, White has a queen, a rook, and five pawns. Black has two knights, a bishop, and five pawns. Let us count the material. White: queen (9) + rook (5) + 5 pawns (5) = 19 points. Black: 2 knights (6) + bishop (3) + 5 pawns (5) = 14 points.
White has a five-point material advantage, which is substantial. In most cases, this kind of advantage translates into a winning position. However, the actual assessment depends on the specific position - piece activity, king safety, and pawn structure all matter. The point count is a starting point, not the final answer.
White has 19 points of material versus Black's 14 - a significant advantage.
Why Bishop and Knight Have the Same Value
Bishops and knights are both worth approximately 3 points, and chess players have debated their relative merits for centuries. The truth is that neither piece is strictly better - it depends entirely on the position.
Bishops excel in open positions with long diagonals. A bishop can control a sweep of squares from one corner to another and is particularly powerful in endgames where pawns are spread across both sides of the board. However, a bishop is limited to squares of one colour, meaning it can never attack or defend half the squares on the board.
Knights are better in closed positions where pawns lock together and create barriers. The knight's ability to jump over pieces makes it uniquely effective in cramped positions where a bishop would be blocked. Knights also create more complex threats because their movement pattern is harder to visualise.
The "bishop pair" - having both bishops - is generally considered a slight advantage (worth about half a pawn extra) because together they cover all 64 squares. If you have only one bishop, your opponent can place pieces on the opposite colour to be completely safe from it.
When Point Values Mislead
Point values are averages. They describe how pieces tend to perform across many games and many positions. But in any specific position, the actual value of a piece can be higher or lower than its point value.
A rook on an open file, penetrating into the enemy position, is worth more than 5 points. A rook trapped in a corner with no open lines is worth much less. A knight firmly planted on a central outpost, protected by a pawn and impossible to dislodge, can dominate the game. A knight sitting on the rim of the board, as the saying goes, is "dim" - far from the action and worth less than its 3-point rating.
Pawns become more valuable as the game progresses, especially passed pawns (pawns with no opposing pawn blocking them) that threaten promotion. In the endgame, a single pawn can be worth more than a minor piece if it is close to the promotion square.
The point system gives you a framework. Experience teaches you when to trust it and when to deviate. Both are essential parts of chess growth.
Piece Value Questions
Is the queen really worth 9 points?
Approximately, yes. The queen combines the powers of a rook (5) and a bishop (3), but its ability to function as both simultaneously makes it slightly more valuable than 8, hence the conventional value of 9. In practice, the queen is the most dominant piece on the board.
What is "winning the exchange"?
Winning the exchange means trading a minor piece (bishop or knight, worth 3) for a rook (worth 5). You gain approximately 2 points of material. Losing the exchange is the reverse - giving up a rook for a minor piece.
Should I always trade if I gain material?
Usually, but not always. Sometimes keeping your active pieces on the board is more important than winning a pawn. And sometimes your opponent offers material as a sacrifice - giving up points on purpose to gain an attack or positional advantage. Always consider the full position.
Is two bishops better than two knights?
In most positions, yes. The bishop pair is generally considered slightly superior to two knights, especially in open positions. However, two knights can be very effective in closed, complex positions. The position determines which pair is better.
Professor Archer says: The biggest misconception I encounter is that piece values are absolute laws. They are guidelines, not commandments. A knight on a dominant central square can outperform a rook stuck behind its own pawns. A bishop in an open position can be worth more than a knight in a closed one. As you gain experience, you will learn to override the point system when the position demands it. But first, learn the numbers. You have to know the rules before you can break them.
Quick Quiz
You can trade your rook for your opponent's knight and a pawn. Should you?
- No - you would lose material (rook 5 vs knight 3 + pawn 1 = 4) (Correct) - Correct. Your rook is worth 5 points, while the knight (3) and pawn (1) total only 4 points. This trade loses 1 point of material. Unless there is a specific positional reason, you should avoid this exchange.
- Yes - getting two pieces for one is always good - The number of pieces is less important than their total value. Two pieces worth 4 points combined are not worth trading a 5-point piece for, in general.
- It is an even trade - A rook (5 points) for a knight and pawn (4 points) is not even. You would be losing approximately 1 point of material in this exchange.
- Yes - eliminating an enemy knight is always a priority - While knights can be annoying, giving up a rook for a knight and pawn is a material loss. Knights are not inherently more dangerous than other pieces and do not warrant a premium to eliminate.