Capturing and chess piece values
How captures work in chess and what each piece is worth: pawn 1, knight 3, bishop 3, rook 5, queen 9. Use the values to choose good trades. How the pieces move · lesson 8 of 8.
The lesson in words
You capture by moving onto an enemy piece’s square. The captured piece leaves the board for good.
To judge a capture, count points: pawn 1, knight 3, bishop 3, rook 5, queen 9. The king can’t be captured: the game ends first.
Your knight on e5 attacks three black pieces.
Try it: Make the most valuable capture.
You know how every piece moves. Next unit: check and checkmate, how the game is actually won.
Questions
Is that a good trade for you?
Yes. You gain 5 points and give up 3, so you come out 2 ahead. Chess players call this “winning the exchange”.