One of the more interesting ideas that Norowitz discussed was that you could value the pieces according to how well they control light and dark squares, in which case the Bishop practically becomes the basic unit of value:
- Bishop: $1,000 of its color -- the two Bishops and an unopposed Bishop (which he called "the Golden Bishop") would be more valuable.
- Knight: $500 of light and $500 of dark, or about $1,000
- Rook: $750 of light and $750 of dark, or about $1,500
- Queen: $1,500 of light and $1,500 of dark, or about $3,000
Test yourself with the position below, which could have arisen in one of the games Norowitz discussed as the conclusion of White's light square strategy.
The triumph of light-square strategy
White to play and win
White to play and win
4 comments:
I'd also be curious how pawns (& pawn chains) and "bad bishops" are appraised in terms of color control. A missing g-pawn, for example, weakens a whole color complex around the king-- I've seen many many Nxg7 combinations leading to dark-square domination both in Vukovic and Aagaard (both of which i am reading page by page right now!). The role of pawn structures on color weaknesses is most pronounced in stonewall formations, a YaacovN specialty. :)
This is surely a new way of looking at chess for me. I've only started to learn poker lately, and I must say adding money value to spaces in chess reminds me of poker and its hands.
This is surely a new way of looking at chess for me. I've only started to learn poker lately, and I must say adding money value to spaces in chess reminds me of poker and its hands.
Bxf7!! - Qxf7
h6+ - Kg8
h7+ - Kxg7
QxQ
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