Oh yeah, I've listened to all of this and some of Dennis E. Taylor's other stuff, as well. I've also listened to all of ExFor and everything Andy Weir, almost everything narrated by Travis Baldree, too.
Its the next blockbuster series. If my mother, who claimed murderbot was too complicated and has never played video games loved it... the series has legs.
There are values associated with pieces. Without considering the position, a pawn would = 1, Knight = 3, Bishop = 3.5, Rook = 5, and Queen = 9. I've not seen the game yet, but if he traded a Queen for 2 rooks that isn't such a bad deal.