Chess piece values
Count each side's captures and see who is ahead. The values are guidelines, not rules.
Material counter
Material is equal.
Piece values
- Queen9
- Rook5
- Bishop3
- Knight3
- Pawn1
- Kingnone
Quick answer. Pawn 1, knight 3, bishop 3, rook 5, queen 9; the king has no value. Add up each side, subtract, and treat the result as a guide, not a verdict.
Chess piece value chart
| Piece | Value (pawns) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pawn | 1 | The unit everything else is measured in. |
| Knight | 3 | Jumps, but covers little of the board from a corner. |
| Bishop | 3 | Long diagonals, but stuck on one colour of square. |
| Rook | 5 | Controls whole files and ranks. |
| Queen | 9 | Combines rook and bishop movement. |
| King | none | Can't be captured or traded, so it has no point value. |
The numbers are a teaching shortcut. Values are a rough guide, not a rule: a piece's true worth depends on the position.
Key takeaway. Use 1-3-3-5-9 to judge a trade quickly, then look at the position before you decide.
How to count material in 3 steps
- Add up each side's pieces. Use pawn 1, knight 3, bishop 3, rook 5, queen 9. Leave out the king.
- Subtract. The side with the larger total is ahead by the difference.
- Check the position. Activity, king safety and open lines can outweigh a point or two.
Common trade mistakes
| Mistake | Better habit |
|---|---|
| Treating the points as a result | Points don't decide who wins. Activity and position matter. |
| Counting the king | The king has no point value. |
| Swapping a bishop for a knight automatically | Both count 3, but the position can favour one. |
| Giving up a queen for two rooks without checking | 9 against 10 can be fine, but it's rare. Check the position first. |
Frequently asked questions
What are the standard chess piece values?
Pawn 1, knight 3, bishop 3, rook 5 and queen 9. These are conventional point values used to judge trades.
Does the king have a value?
No. The king can't be captured or traded during a game, so no point value is assigned.
Are piece values official chess rules?
No. They are a guide for evaluating trades. They don't decide who wins a game.
Is a bishop worth more than a knight?
Both are conventionally worth 3. A piece's true value depends on the position, so either can be better.
Is a queen worth two rooks?
By the numbers it is 9 against 10, and the trade can be favourable, but this is rare. Check the position before you trade.
How do I count material in a game?
Add each side's piece values, leaving out the king, and subtract. The counter above does this from the pieces each side has captured.
Do all players use the same values?
No. 1-3-3-5-9 is the common teaching set, and some strong players and engines use slightly different numbers. They are all approximations.
More free chess tools
- Chess board setupPlace every piece, step by step.
- Chess piece names and movesNames, letters and how each piece moves.
- Chess clockComing soon
- Chess set size calculatorComing soon
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Last checked: . We read these sources when writing this page:
FIDE Article 2 gives the starting position as a diagram; the piece-by-piece placement in words comes from the Wikipedia rules page, which matches the diagram.
US Chess rules and Britannica could not be read (HTTP 403) on the check date, so they are not cited.