ON THE RELATIVE VALUE OF THE CHESS FORCES.

An attempt to establish a scale of powers whereby the relative values of
the several men could be estimated with mathematical exactitude,
although it has frequently engaged the attention of scientific minds,
appears to be an expenditure of ingenuity and research upon an
unattainable object. So ever varying, so much dependent on the mutations
of _position_ which every move occasions, and on the augmented power
which it acquires when combined with other forces, is the proportionate
worth of this with that particular man, that it would seem to be beyond
the reach of computation to devise a formula by which it can be reckoned
with precision. But still an approximation to correctness has been made,
and the result arrived at gives the following as the ultimate respective
values:--

Pawn = 1.00
Knight = 3.05
Bishop = 3.50
Rook = 5.48
Queen = 9.94

The King, from the nature of the game, which does not admit of his being
exchanged or captured, is invaluable, and he is not, therefore, included
in the calculations.

The Pawn, it is seen, is the least valuable of all the men, the Knight
being worth at least three Pawns.

The Bishops and Knights are practically considered of equal value,