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Mike, the value depends at least in part on how big the board is. On an
8x8 board a Maorider is worth comparatively less than on a 10x10 board.
If you use Betza's modification of empty board mobility (found
<a href='../d.betza/pieceval/betterway.html'>here</a>) for an 8x8 board,
you can calculate a value of a Maorider. If I read it correctly, it would
be 0.68275 the value of a Nightrider. Now a Nightrider is generally
accepted to be worth a Rook and Betza follows Spielmann in assigning the
Rook a value of 4.5 Pawns, yielding about 3.07 Pawns for a Maorider, or
right in the Bishop/Knight ballpark.
<p>
Of course, Ralph has expressed doubts about these values from time to time.
However, given that the Maorider is awkward in the opening, and limited in
the endgame (I don't <em>think</em> K + NN vs K is a win, never mind K +
nNnN vs K), the value seems OK to me.