Chess Counting
Counting is all about evaluating potential exchanges to see whether you come out ahead or behind. This is an essential skill to develop before moving on to more difficult tactical problems.
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White to move. Does Rxd5 win a pawn?
Consider the example to the right. It's white's move. Can he play Rxd5 and safely capture the black Pawn?
The answer is yes. Black only protects the Pawn with one piece, while white attacks the pawn with two pieces. The exchange might go:
1. Rxd5 Rxd5
2. Bxd5
White has exchanged a Rook (5 points) for a Rook and a Pawn (6 points). He has come out ahead by a Pawn in the trade.
The next two pages present some exercises to work through.