Chess Piece Point Values
Understanding piece values is fundamental to chess. They help you evaluate trades, judge material balance, and make decisions about sacrifices. Here is the complete guide to what each piece is worth.
Standard piece values
The universally accepted values are:
| Piece | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pawn ♙ | 1 | The basic unit of measurement |
| Knight ♘ | 3 | Best in closed positions and the centre |
| Bishop ♗ | 3 (or 3.25) | Best in open positions with clear diagonals |
| Rook ♖ | 5 | Best on open files and the 7th rank |
| Queen ♕ | 9 | Combines rook and bishop movement |
| King ♔ | ∞ | Invaluable, losing it means losing the game |
When values change
Piece values are guidelines, not fixed rules. In practice, a piece's value depends on the position:
- A knight on a strong outpost can be worth more than a rook.
- A bad bishop trapped behind its own pawns can be worth less than 2 points.
- Two bishops together (the "bishop pair") are worth more than a bishop and a knight.
- A passed pawn near promotion can be worth as much as a piece.
The exchange
"Winning the exchange" means trading a minor piece (knight/bishop, worth 3) for a rook (worth 5), gaining approximately 2 points of material. See our exchange sacrifice guide for when giving up the exchange is actually winning.