Simon Jepps wrote on Tue, Jan 24, 2012 06:00 AM UTC:
Thanks Christine. Yes you are right the Hawk is slightly more powerful. It often proves to be a more valuable piece. The wonderful thing about the Hawk is that as you get into the Jeppseirawn 'way' so to speak, you find a 'Hawkseye' in your playing strategy - this is whereby you discover how the Hawk is able to seemingly appear out of nowhere and 'snake-bite' your opponent into a very awkward position.
However, that said, the Elephant is very handy in defensive positions. It is often advisable to keep him back until the middle-to-end game, but having him sit by your castled King nearby is often useful.
That said I wouldn't say the Hawk is terribly more powerful than the Elephant since the Elephant can similarly deliver some 'locks, slots & illusions' of its own, dependent on the position.
But it would be interesting to know the exact mathematical difference between the two.
However, that said, the Elephant is very handy in defensive positions. It is often advisable to keep him back until the middle-to-end game, but having him sit by your castled King nearby is often useful.
That said I wouldn't say the Hawk is terribly more powerful than the Elephant since the Elephant can similarly deliver some 'locks, slots & illusions' of its own, dependent on the position.
But it would be interesting to know the exact mathematical difference between the two.