Pieces & Activity
What is a material in chess?
- Pieces
- Activity
- Coordination
Material is a piece-play concept: a player's pieces and pawns on the board. The player with pieces and pawns of total greater value is said to have a material advantage. Gaining a material advantage is called winning material. See Chess piece relative value. Ask whether the piece is active, coordinated, and serving a real plan.
What to look for on the board
- Your least active piece.
- Open lines and strong squares.
- Whether pieces coordinate on the same target.
Related terms
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