Answers.Body: <p>No, it is not a good strategy (in any situation).</p>
  
  <p>Each game is different and it is not a good idea to follow a strict strategy like this. Even in open positions there are situations where knights can become very strong. Take for instance the following position which is inspired by the Sicilian Najdorf (so would satisfy your semi-open requirement). The knight is very strong and cannot easily be removed from its dominant position. The black bishop on the other hand is stuck defending the pawn on d6 and does not have many options in general.</p>
  
  <pre><code>r2q1rk1/1p2bppp/p2p4/3Np3/4P3/8/PPP2PPP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 1 13
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>It is not possible to generalize that bishops are always stronger. You really need to analyze the position you have and base your strategy on this. A few things to look for:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>badly placed pieces - which you could improve</li>
  <li>weaknesses in the pawn structure - which could be attacked</li>
  <li>open files - which you could occupy</li>
  <li>more space - which you could take advantage of</li>
  <li>better development - which you could take advantage of (typically by opening up the position)</li>
  <li>insecure king - which you could attack</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>And of course you should analyze this for both sides in order to be aware of possible plans of your opponent.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-02-21T19:57:08.637Z
Answers.Text: That's a very good example: the Sicilian Najdorf is the standard example (in some lines, at least) where a "good" knight is much better than a "bad" bishop.
Answers.UserDisplayName: gented
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-02-21T09:18:41.610Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2017-02-21T09:18:41.610Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Body: <p>I just learned that bishops are better in an opened game, but in a "normal" game is it good to follow this strategy?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-02-21T06:27:36.923Z
Comments.Text: Whether to exchange knight for bishop is something that even a GM could go wrong. What do you mean by "normal" game? How do you define a game normal?
Comments.UserDisplayName: SmallChess
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-02-21T07:13:17.713Z
Comments.Text: By normal I would mean a semi open and in the openings stage of the game.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Ivan
Tags: <knights><bishops>
Title: Is exchanging a knight for a bishop and open the game a good strategy for beginners?
ThreadText: # Is exchanging a knight for a bishop and open the game a good strategy for beginners?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-21)
  
  I just learned that bishops are better in an opened game, but in a "normal" game is it good to follow this strategy?
  
  **Tags:** knights, bishops
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Whether to exchange knight for bishop is something that even a GM could go wrong. What do you mean by "normal" game? How do you define a game normal?  
  > **username_0**: By normal I would mean a semi open and in the openings stage of the game.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2017-02-21. Score: 7 | Accepted answer
  
  No, it is not a good strategy (in any situation).
  
  Each game is different and it is not a good idea to follow a strict strategy like this. Even in open positions there are situations where knights can become very strong. Take for instance the following position which is inspired by the Sicilian Najdorf (so would satisfy your semi-open requirement). The knight is very strong and cannot easily be removed from its dominant position. The black bishop on the other hand is stuck defending the pawn on d6 and does not have many options in general.
  
  ```
  r2q1rk1/1p2bppp/p2p4/3Np3/4P3/8/PPP2PPP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 1 13
  
  ```
  
  It is not possible to generalize that bishops are always stronger. You really need to analyze the position you have and base your strategy on this. A few things to look for:
  
  * badly placed pieces - which you could improve
  * weaknesses in the pawn structure - which could be attacked
  * open files - which you could occupy
  * more space - which you could take advantage of
  * better development - which you could take advantage of (typically by opening up the position)
  * insecure king - which you could attack
  
  And of course you should analyze this for both sides in order to be aware of possible plans of your opponent.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: That's a very good example: the Sicilian Najdorf is the standard example (in some lines, at least) where a "good" knight is much better than a "bad" bishop.  
  
  ---
  
  