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Subject: Re: Bishop and Knight for a Rook

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 18:06:02 01/02/03

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On January 02, 2003 at 10:44:49, Brian Thomas wrote:

>Kind of a newbie question, but better to ask than to wonder:
>
>I was playing a game recently against someone whom I'd consider a reasonably
>stronger player.  I made a play where I exchanged a bishop and knight for a
>rook.  This was done fairly early in the game so I believe we each had the rest
>of our armies.  I think this surprised my opponent (we discussed it afterwards
>and my general thought was he felt it was a mistake).
>
>Now, I was reading a book or article recently that actually mentioned a very
>similar position. In the analysis white did the same exchange to maintain good
>position, and the author was critical of this saying a bishop and knight for a
>rook loses in the exchange.
>
>Each position is unique in its own right and there's no blanket answer, but I'm
>a bit surprised by this.  I would almost always take that exchange if it was
>positionally favorable, and usually you can gain a tempo.  If I were down
>material, I'd look elsewhere.  But is this generally thought to be a mistake?
>
>What do you all think?


It is almost _always_ a mistake.  B+N is _stronger_ than R+P, and this is
typically covered in most every begging chess book.  Two pieces can attack
a square twice, while a rook can only attack it once...


>
>Brian



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