Chess Patterns ❯ Differences in Material ❯ Material Advantage

Material Advantage

If you look at your pieces and have more total "points" than your opponent, you have a Material Advantage. The most common way to count the relative value of pieces is this: pawns are worth 1 point, Knights and Bishops 3, Rooks 5, Queens 9. In the diagram above, for example, White has a Queen for a Knight and a pawn. Typically, having more or stronger pieces to attack with increases your chances of winning.

Ideas for when you have a Material Advantage: (1) Simplify the position by trading pieces, (2) Use your extra pieces to control key squares and files, (3) If needed, take your time to reorganize your forces. Ideas against a Material Advantage: (1) Complicate the position to create counterplay, (2) Avoid being passive, (3) Trade off pawns.

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Master the Material Advantage

When we started adding a playful touch to chess learning, we looked through thousands of videos and hundreds of books to find the best resources out there. Here's our curated selection of the best content we encountered on Material Advantage. We also included some smaller creators who are growing fast and we believe deserve your attention. Check out these resources if you want to master this type of advantage.

How to win material in chess
A super-clear and actionable video in which ChessGeek introduces beginner players to some tips on how to get a Material Advantage in your games.

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EP 377- NM Dan Heisman and NM Laura Smith on Capturing, Counting, and other Chess Concepts
This episode of the Perpetual Chess Podcast is a wonderful discussion on many chess concepts related to the idea of “Material”. Don’t skip it.

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GM Neiksans Boot Camp #33 - Converting of Material Advantage
Let’s say you do have a Material Advantage. How do you convert it into a win? Watch this VERY extensive explanation by the top-notch GMNeiksans Chess channel. Every detail is greatly presented here.

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How to Reassess Your Chess, 4th Edition*
This is one of the most famous works by Jeremy Silman. Easy to read, entertaining, full of examples that detail the most important positional principles in chess, including material advantage. You'll love it.

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The Seven Deadly Chess Sins*
This is a different type of chess book. Jonathan Rowson takes a unique approach and delves into the player's mind, teaching you to rethink your entire chess mindset, including material. For the true lovers of the game.

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