Knight vs Bishop
Knight and bishop are nominally worth the same (3 points each), but in practice, their value fluctuates dramatically depending on the position. Understanding when each piece is superior is a fundamental skill that affects your trading decisions, opening choices, and strategic plans.
When knights are better
- Closed positions with locked pawn chains, knights can hop over pawns; bishops can't.
- Positions with outposts, a knight on a secure outpost is a permanent asset.
- Endgames with all pawns on one side, knights can reach squares of both colours.
- When the opponent has a bad bishop, the knight outperforms a restricted bishop.
When bishops are better
- Open positions with few pawns and open diagonals, bishops have unlimited range.
- Endgames with pawns on both sides, the bishop's long-range ability lets it influence both flanks simultaneously.
- Positions where the bishop pair exists, two bishops coordinate powerfully.
- Rook endgames with a bishop, bishops support rook activity more effectively than knights in most rook endgames.
The practical evaluation
Before trading knight for bishop (or vice versa), ask:
- Is the position open or closed?
- Are there outposts for a knight?
- Are the diagonals open for a bishop?
- What will the endgame look like?
- Does keeping my piece restrict my opponent's piece? These five questions determine whether the trade is good or bad.
Famous examples
Fischer famously loved bishops and often traded knights for them. Petrosian and Karpov excelled with knights on outposts. Study their games in the legends archive for masterful minor piece handling. See also: When to Trade Pieces.