minor piece

noun

, Chess.

1. a bishop or knight.

Word History and Origins

Origin of minor piece¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Ne3 — White only gets a rook and minor piece for the queen, but his rook on d8 locks up Black’s queenside and allows the kingside mating attack to proceed.

From Washington Times

Rae8 — Black only has a rook and minor piece for the queen, but his rook pair and bishop pair lay down a murderous attacking crossfire.

From Washington Times

The Sicilian savant has to be familiar with a string of thematic sacrifices on squares all over the chessboard, and here Vaishali pulls off the classic minor piece sac on e6 to fuel a winning attack.

From Washington Times

His win over veteran Armenian GM Gabriel Sargissian from last year’s 44th Olympiad, held in Chennai, channels Pragg-Topalov in striking ways: a kingside assault and a timely minor piece sacrifice result in White getting a queen for a rook and minor piece and a winning edge.

From Washington Times

Rxg6+, and Black resigned as the rook and minor piece are no match for the White queen in lines such as 22…Nxg6 23.

From Washington Times