What the pieces are worth

To keep track, each piece is given a rough value: a pawn is worth 1, a knight and a bishop 3, a rook 5, the queen 9. The king has no value — without him there is no game.

These numbers are not a law, they are landmarks. They answer one very common question quickly: is this trade good for me?

A well-placed knight can be worth more than a rook asleep in a corner. But while you are starting out, these numbers will save you from a lot of bad bargains.