Chess strategy


Chess strategy is concerned with the evaluation of chess positions and with setting up goals and long-term tactics for upcoming play. During the evaluation, a player must take into account the value of pieces on the board, pawn structure, king safety, positioning, and control of key squares and groups of squares.

The most basic is to count the total value of pieces on both sides. The point values used for this purpose are based on familiarity. Usually pawns are considered worth one point, knights and bishops three points each, rooks five points, and queens nine points. The fighting value of the king in the endgame is equivalent to four points. These basic values are modified by other factors such as position of the piece, coordination between pieces or type of position.