Bishop and so on. The reason is that sometimes the weaker man
occupies a commanding square while the stronger man is obstructed
somehow or other so that he cannot be made to work. Examples for
positions of this kind will be discussed in the Chapter on
combination.

Although it is impossible to indicate exactly the relative value
of the men in each position, experience enables a fair estimation
of their average strength. The Queen is about as strong as two
Rooks or as three minor pieces (Bishops or Knights). A minor
piece is about equivalent to three Pawns, and a Rook is
consequently equal to a minor piece and one to two Pawns.

The value of a Pawn is the hardest thing to grasp for the
beginner. A Pawn appears to be of so little use on account of his
limited mobility, that it seems hardly worth while to waste time
on saving a Pawn that is attacked, as so much greater things are
apparently at issue. What he overlooks is the latent value of the
Pawn which lies in the possibility of queening him later in the
game.

To realize the importance of the Pawn it is necessary to know
exactly under what conditions he CAN be queened. This knowledge
is all the more indispensable to the Chess player as the vast
majority of all games finally resolve themselves into Pawn
endings in which the advantage of one or more Pawns decides the
issue.

In most of these cases some pieces are on the board in addition
to the Pawns and sometimes it is only by their exchange that the