Princess (B+N) – bishop+knight fairy piece

Princess

Definition

In chess variants and problem composition, the Princess is a powerful fairy chess piece that combines the movement of a bishop and a knight in a single piece. It moves any number of squares diagonally like a bishop, or it can jump in an L‑shape like a knight. The Princess captures in the same manner as it moves. This compound piece is widely known by several synonyms: Archbishop and Cardinal are the most common alternatives in literature. By contrast, the related Empress is a rook+knight compound, and the even stronger Amazon is a queen+knight compound.

How it is used in chess (variants and problems)

The Princess does not appear in standard chess, but it is a staple of Fairy pieces used in composition and a number of popular variants. Because it merges long‑range diagonal power with a leaping fork machine, the Princess is valued for its tactical explosiveness and its ability to ignore blockades.

• In variants such as Capablanca chess (and its relatives, including Gothic chess and Grand chess), the bishop+knight compound is typically called the Archbishop/Cardinal, functionally identical to the Princess.
• In Seirawan chess (S‑Chess), the “Hawk” plays as bishop+knight—again the Princess by another name—introduced from the reserve onto a piece’s square after it moves.
• In problem chess, Princess pieces enable rich themes: dual threats, line‑opening with diagonal power, followed by knight forks. They often feature in AUW tasks (see Allumwandlung), where four different promotions are required.

Movement, rules, and relative value

Movement: any legal bishop move or any legal knight move, one mode per move. The knight component leaps; the bishop component slides and cannot pass through occupied squares.

• Checkmating power: King+Princess checkmates the lone king (like king+queen or king+rook endgames, but techniques differ).
• Estimated value: commonly assessed between 7 and 7.5 pawns—stronger than a rook and minor piece, weaker than a queen. The exact value depends on position, openness, and king safety.
• Trade heuristics:
  • Princess vs rook + minor piece: often balanced or slightly in favor of the Princess if activity and targets abound.
  • Princess vs two minor pieces: dynamic and close; the Princess prefers open boards and loose enemy kings.
  • Princess vs queen: generally inferior to the queen due to the queen’s orthogonal power.

Strategic ideas with the Princess

• Fork factories: The knight mode threatens classic forks while the bishop mode lines up x‑rays, pins, and skewers. Switching modes multiplies tactical motifs.
• Color‑complex dominance: As a long‑range diagonal piece, it can dominate a color complex; the knight mode compensates for the bishop’s color‑binding by hopping to the opposite color when needed.
• Outposts and blockades: A centralized Princess on an outpost controls diagonals and creates immediate knight‑jump threats that are difficult to parry.
• Attacking fianchettoed kings: The diagonal reach harmonizes with typical attacks against g2/g7; the knight jump crashes through dark/ light‑square holes.
• Endgames: In simplified positions the Princess chases the enemy king efficiently because it can switch from long diagonals (restriction) to knight checks (cornering).

Example motifs (standard-chess boards illustrating Princess-like power)

The following illustrative mini‑line shows typical bishop+knight coordination that a single Princess would deliver even faster. Imagine a Princess posted on e5: it would at once combine diagonal pressure on c7/h8 with knight forks on g4/f7.

In problem settings, a Princess often creates dual threats like “mate on the diagonal” or “knight fork next move,” forcing decisive concessions. For example, a Princess on c4 can both pin along the a2–g8 diagonal and jump to d6/f6/e5 to fork heavy pieces.

Historical and variant context

• Naming: “Princess,” “Archbishop,” and “Cardinal” all denote the same B+N compound. Variant designers choose names to fit their theme (court pieces, ecclesiastical hierarchy, etc.).
• 20th‑century variants: Capablanca promoted expanded‑piece chess with bishop+knight and rook+knight compounds to reduce draw rates and enrich middlegames—ideas echoed in modern variants like Seirawan chess.
• Problem heritage: Fairy composition embraced the Princess for elegant themes—Plachutta/Novotny‑style interference combined with immediate knight forks, unlocking dense tactical “chess logic.”

Typical tactical patterns the Princess excels at

• Pin to fork: Use bishop mode to pin a defender, then switch to a knight jump to fork the newly overworked piece (see Pin, Fork, Overload).
• Diagonal skewer into jump: Skewer a heavy piece on a long diagonal, then leap with a knight move to win additional material (see Skewer and X-ray).
• Mate nets: Combine diagonal restriction with knight check patterns to build nets reminiscent of a queen’s chase, especially against exposed kings (see Mating net).

Endgames at a glance

• K+Princess vs K: theoretically won; the method uses diagonal restriction plus zig‑zagging knight checks to force the king to the edge and corner.
• Princess vs rook: usually winning for the Princess, especially with centralized king support and open space.
• Princess vs bishop+knight: roughly competitive; the Princess often outperforms unless the minors coordinate perfectly and can target it with tempo.

Comparisons to related fairy pieces

• Princess (B+N) vs Empress (R+N): The Empress is typically stronger (~8.5–9) due to rook‑like files and ranks alongside the knight.
• Princess vs Amazon (Q+N): The Amazon dominates nearly all pieces (~12) but is rare in practical variants due to overwhelming strength.
• Princess vs Queen: The queen’s orthogonal plus diagonal reach generally outvalues the Princess; however, the Princess can generate unique fork threats the queen cannot.

Interesting facts and anecdotes

• Naming confusion: In some rule sets the same B+N piece is called “Archbishop,” “Cardinal,” or “Princess,” leading to occasional rules misunderstandings in casual variant play.
• Draw‑reduction aim: Designers introduce the Princess (and Empress) to spur dynamic imbalances, increase tactical opportunities, and reduce “Draw death” concerns in high‑level play.
• Promotion fun: In fairy tournaments allowing broad promotions, a pawn may underpromote to a Princess to create immediate fork threats—sometimes seen in showy AUW tasks (see Allumwandlung).

Practical tips if you face the Princess in a variant

• Limit squares: Control central dark and light squares with pawns; deny stable outposts like e5/d5/e4/d4 where the Princess is most lethal.
• Trade profile: Favor trades that blunt diagonals (lock pawn chains) and reduce forking targets; coordinate pieces to avoid knight forks after a forced diagonal response.
• King safety: Fianchetto structures need extra care; neutralize diagonals with timely pawn pushes and keep rooks/queens unaligned with your king.

See also

Related terms and variants: Fairy pieces, Empress, Amazon, Capablanca chess, Gothic chess, Grand chess, Seirawan chess, Allumwandlung, Battery, Fork, Pin, Skewer, X-ray.

Quick reference

• Identity: Princess = Bishop + Knight compound.
• Aliases: Archbishop, Cardinal.
• Estimated value: ~7–7.5 pawns.
• Strengths: Centralization, forks, diagonal control, blockade hopping.
• Weaknesses: No orthogonal sliding (files/ranks), can be blunted by locked diagonals and compact structures.