It isn't chess. It's chicken

[JoePhilly]

8. That person knows very little about how chess is actually played. Pawns are not used that way.

Unless you suck at chess.

In reality, Pawns are extremely valuable.

First, let's look at their numerical value. An individual pawn has an INITIAL value of 1 point. But together, their initial value is 8 points.

The queen by comparison is worth 9 points, but there is only one queen. And in higher level chess, the queens are often traded off teh board early.

Then we have the rooks. Each is worth 5 points for a value of 10 total.

Then we have the bishops and knights. Each is worth 3 points. So you have 6 points for Knights, and 6 for Bishops.

So in reality, the paws start with a value above the knights and the bishops, and are just one point less then the Queen.

But something else makes the pawns special. They are the only pieces on the board who can increase their individual value.

Now you might naively think that a pawn can only gain value by becoming a Queen, but that's not a complete understanding. If a pawn crosses the board and makes it to the other side (the 8th rank), it can be promoted and become a Queen (actually, it can become any other piece other than the king).

But a pawn that reaches the 7th rank, threatening to become a queen has also increased its individual value. Most good chess players would count that pawn on the 7th rank and worth about 5 points, or the same as a rook. If the pawn is on the 6th rank, you'd usually consider it worth about the same as a knight or bishop. Which means I would be willing to trade a rook or a knight/bishop in the PROTECTION of that pawn.

In higher level chess, you don't sacrifice pawns, you JAM them down your opponents throat.

So next time some one tells you that you sacrifice pawns to protect the royalty, realize that the person knows nothing about how chess is actually played.

White to move ... find the checkmate in 1 move.