--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most chess players know, thanks to the…" description: "\"Most chess players know, thanks to the study of master games, that two bishops are stronger than two knights or than bishop and knight, though very few..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/richard-reti-31532_accounts_most-chess-players-know-thanks-to-the-st_708990.jpg" --- # Most chess players know, thanks to the study of master… ![“Most chess players know, thanks to the study of master games, that two bishops are stronger than two knights or than bishop and knight, though very few know the reason for this advantage and how to turn it to account.” quote by Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/richard-reti-31532_accounts_most-chess-players-know-thanks-to-the-st_708990.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/richard-reti-31532_accounts_most-chess-players-know-thanks-to-the-st_708990.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/richard-reti-31532_accounts_most-chess-players-know-thanks-to-the-st_708990.jpg) > “Most chess players know, thanks to the study of master games, that two bishops are stronger than two knights or than bishop and knight, though very few know the reason for this advantage and how to turn it to account.” [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Two bishops dominate because they control opposite‑color squares, creating long‑range coordination that knights cannot match. **In simple terms:** Bishops cover more board area. Key Takeaway Use bishops for strategic control. Themes chess strategy piece value coordination Mood analytical strategic Type educational technical When to use this quote - opening preparation - midgame planning - endgame tactics Key Concepts geometry positional advantage Questions to Reflect On - When should you favor knights? - How do pawn structures affect bishop strength? A Different Perspective Knights can be more flexible in closed positions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Bishops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bishops/) [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Chess players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess-players/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Knights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knights/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [First, how to sac my queen, then rook, then bishop, then knight, then pawns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-tal/first-how-to-sac-my-queen-then-rook-then-bishop-then-knight-then-pawns/) [Mikhail Tal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-tal/) > [The beautiful wooden board on a stand in my father's study. The gleaming ivory pieces. The stern king. The haughty queen. The noble knight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/the-beautiful-wooden-board-on-a-stand-in-my-father-s-study-the/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [The Bishop and Knight, in contradistinction to the Queen and Rook, are called Minor Pieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-staunton/the-bishop-and-knight-in-contradistinction-to-the-queen-and-rook-are/) [Howard Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-staunton/) > [Although the Knight is generally considered to be on a par with the Bishop in strength, the latter piece is somehat stronger in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/although-the-knight-is-generally-considered-to-be-on-a-par-with-the/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [In blitz, the Knight is stronger than the Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vlastimil-hort/in-blitz-the-knight-is-stronger-than-the-bishop/) Vlastimil Hort > [I have added these principles to the law: get the Knights into action before both Bishops are developed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/i-have-added-these-principles-to-the-law-get-the-knights-into-action/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) > [The weaker the player the more terrible the Knight is to him, but as a player increases in strength the value of the Bishop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/the-weaker-the-player-the-more-terrible-the-knight-is-to-him-but-as-a/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [When I am trying to understand the method of winning in the endgame with two bishops against the knight, chess is a science, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashot-nadanian/when-i-am-trying-to-understand-the-method-of-winning-in-the-endgame/) [Ashot Nadanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashot-nadanian/) > [Here we have bishops, priests, and deacons, a Censorship Board, vigilant librarians, confraternities and sodalities, Duce Maria, Legions of Mary, Knights of this Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-casey/here-we-have-bishops-priests-and-deacons-a-censorship-board-vigilant/) [Sean O'Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-casey/) > [To refer to the oft mooted question, "Which piece is stronger, the Bishop or the Knight?" it is clear that the value of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/to-refer-to-the-oft-mooted-question-which-piece-is-stronger-the/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) > [The Jackdaw sat in the Cardinal's chair! Bishop and Abbot and Prior were there, Many a monk and many a friar, Many a knight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-harris-barham/the-jackdaw-sat-in-the-cardinal-s-chair-bishop-and-abbot-and-prior/) [Richard Harris Barham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-harris-barham/) > [It is a delight to watch a young and gifted chess player. To him have come no sinister experiences; to him continual carping care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/it-is-a-delight-to-watch-a-young-and-gifted-chess-player-to-him-have/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [We perceive after a careful consideration of the evolution of the chess mind that such evolution has gone on, in general, in a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/we-perceive-after-a-careful-consideration-of-the-evolution-of-the/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [A knowledge of tactics is the foundation of positional play. This is a rule which has stood its test in chess history and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/a-knowledge-of-tactics-is-the-foundation-of-positional-play-this-is-a/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [I have known many chess players, but among them there has been only one genius - Capablanca!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/i-have-known-many-chess-players-but-among-them-there-has-been-only/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) ## More by Richard Reti > [The majority of people imagine a chess master as being a townsman who passes his life in an atmosphere of smoke and play in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/the-majority-of-people-imagine-a-chess-master-as-being-a-townsman-who/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [Chess is a fighting game which is purely intellectual and includes chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/chess-is-a-fighting-game-which-is-purely-intellectual-and-includes/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [No one has ever played these endgames with such elegant ease as Capablanca.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/no-one-has-ever-played-these-endgames-with-such-elegant-ease-as/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [A knowledge of tactics is the foundation of positional play. This is a rule which has stood its test in chess history and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/a-knowledge-of-tactics-is-the-foundation-of-positional-play-this-is-a/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [It is the aim of the modern school, not to treat every position according to one general law, but according to the principle inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/it-is-the-aim-of-the-modern-school-not-to-treat-every-position/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [The essential disadvantage of the isolated pawn ... lies not in the pawn itself, but in the square in front of the pawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/the-essential-disadvantage-of-the-isolated-pawn-lies-not-in-the-pawn/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [The pleasure to be derived from a chess combination lie in the feeling that a human mind is behind the game, dominating the inanimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/the-pleasure-to-be-derived-from-a-chess-combination-lie-in-the/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [The scheme of a game is played on positional lines; the decision of it, as a rule, is effected by combinations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/the-scheme-of-a-game-is-played-on-positional-lines-the-decision-of-it/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [In open positions the safety of the King should be the first consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/in-open-positions-the-safety-of-the-king-should-be-the-first/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [Chess was Capablanca's mother tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/chess-was-capablanca-s-mother-tongue/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [It is a profound mistake to imagine mistake to imagine that the art of combination depends only on natural talent, and that it cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/it-is-a-profound-mistake-to-imagine-mistake-to-imagine-that-the-art/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [A knowledge of combinations is the foundation of positional chess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/a-knowledge-of-combinations-is-the-foundation-of-positional-chess/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [It is a delight to watch a young and gifted chess player. To him have come no sinister experiences; to him continual carping care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/it-is-a-delight-to-watch-a-young-and-gifted-chess-player-to-him-have/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [Those chess lovers who ask me how many moves I usually calculate in advance, when making a combination, are always astonished when I reply,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/those-chess-lovers-who-ask-me-how-many-moves-i-usually-calculate-in/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [We perceive after a careful consideration of the evolution of the chess mind that such evolution has gone on, in general, in a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/we-perceive-after-a-careful-consideration-of-the-evolution-of-the/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) [Explore all 16 Richard Reti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) ## More Accounts quotes > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge; it has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-suppression-of-uncomfortable-ideas-may-be-common-in-religion-or/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [You've got to exercise. Your health account, your bank account, they're the same thing. The more you put in, the more you can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/you-ve-got-to-exercise-your-health-account-your-bank-account-they-re/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) > [Stop trying to treat music like it's a tennis shoe, something to be branded. If the music industry wants to save money, they should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-tweedy/stop-trying-to-treat-music-like-it-s-a-tennis-shoe-something-to-be/) [Jeff Tweedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-tweedy/) > [Anyone who thinks science is trying to make human life easier or more pleasant is utterly mistaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/anyone-who-thinks-science-is-trying-to-make-human-life-easier-or-more/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [That surely must be a concern to anyone who decides this drug must be given to stop transmissions, again from mother to child, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/that-surely-must-be-a-concern-to-anyone-who-decides-this-drug-must-be/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) Browse all 2,677 Accounts quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most chess players know, thanks to the study of master games, that two bishops are stronger than two knights or than bishop and knight, though very few know the reason for this advantage and how to turn it to account.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Reti" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/most-chess-players-know-thanks-to-the-study-of-master-games-that-two/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accounts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/most-chess-players-know-thanks-to-the-study-of-master-games-that-two/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/richard-reti-31532_accounts_most-chess-players-know-thanks-to-the-st_708990.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/richard-reti-31532_accounts_most-chess-players-know-thanks-to-the-st_708990.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/richard-reti-31532_accounts_most-chess-players-know-thanks-to-the-st_708990.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most chess players know, thanks to the study of master games, that two bishops are stronger than two knights…” — Richard Reti", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Reti", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most chess players know, thanks to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/most-chess-players-know-thanks-to-the-study-of-master-games-that-two/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/most-chess-players-know-thanks-to-the-study-of-master-games-that-two/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```