| From | Message |
nathanman22
11/26/2007
19:28:05
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 Subject: a bishop or 3 pawns
Message:
I am currently playing a game in which I am about to make an exchange that will give me 6 pawns to a bishop and 3 pawns...I began to think about this situation and wondered which is the stronger position. Is it better to have 3 more pawns or to have a bishop? Anyone have any thoughts on this topic?
-Nathanman22
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cjjpeterson
11/26/2007
21:43:29
| Not sure...
Message:
If we can help you with this until you finish your game. So to be on the safe side I won't answer this until the game is over.
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nathanman22
11/26/2007
22:34:06
| games over
Message:
It didn't even come down to what I expected-he pinned my rook before I even made the exchange and I resigned....
-Nathanman22
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kewms
11/26/2007
23:19:00
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Message:
In general, it depends on the pawns. Three backward, isolated pawns would even have trouble against a well-positioned knight. Three connected passers can even beat a rook if they are close to queening.
In the position in your game, the passed g and h pawns certainly look good. Rook pawns can be tough to stop anyway, since the defending pieces can only attack one side. On the other hand, his king is right where he needs to be, and without a rook it won't be easy to chase him back. White's ideal scenario has the king holding the pawns off while the bishop eats pawns on the other side of the board. But once the pawns get to dark squares the bishop can't touch them, and if all the pawns go away a lone bishop isn't enough to win. I would say Black has more winning chances, but there's a good chance White can hold the draw. But I'm eager to see what wiser heads have to say about it.
All of which is, of course, moot, since the game position still has that pesky rook *and* that annoying f-pawn. In the game position, Black is in deep trouble. As you discovered, swapping rooks is easier said than done.
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lighttotheright
11/27/2007
00:33:54
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Message:
The endgame position might have been enough to draw, if played correctly by black; but, white had the advantage with the bishop and a basically open board.
As you quickly discovered, the bishop is very powerful it such a position. I am pretty sure that there was not enough compensation for black to win. It would have been extremely difficult to get the draw. Black's only chance to do so was to shut down the white bishop through the use of pawns on the queen side. Yet, this obstruction would probably be only temporary, because of White's potential use of levers.
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rt4sm
11/27/2007
02:52:12
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Message:
In games like that the person with the 3 pawns is usually at a disadvantage unless the person with the extra minor piece has no pawns left. This is largely because they won't be able to get a queen and they are very unlikely to win with just one extra minor piece. It makes little difference whether the minor piece is a knight or a bishop. This is statistically true based on results of games between top OTB players.
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ganstaman
11/27/2007
05:45:49
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Message:
It almost sounds like rt4sm was calling for me.
 mywebpages.comcast.net
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rt4sm
11/27/2007
08:48:30
| ganstaman...
Message:
Arrives like a knight in shining armour, that's a very interesting page! Thank you...
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ravster
11/27/2007
13:54:42
| Maybe...maybe not
Message:
like rt4sm says, it depends if you are playing the endgame. If you are, you would want to keep your 3 pawns (so they can be promoted). If you are not, it might be better to have your bishop.
Ravi
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lapsekili
12/07/2007
12:20:32
| pawn or bishop
Message:
I think three pawn are stronger than bishop if it is end of the game.But losing 3 pawns is better i think if you have no bishop at the middle of the game. However the pawns can be queen or rook and protect each other to lose anyone.Three pawns are good at the end of the game but i select a bishop at the starting.
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lapsekili
12/07/2007
12:20:32
| pawn or bishop
Message:
I think three pawn are stronger than bishop if it is end of the game.But losing 3 pawns is better i think if you have no bishop at the middle of the game. However the pawns can be queen or rook and protect each other to lose anyone.Three pawns are good at the end of the game but i select a bishop at the starting.
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