DETROIT — The nation's largest newspaper publisher upped its stake in Detroit's two-paper market, while its biggest competitor relinquished dailies in Detroit and Tallahassee, Fla., and increased its holdings in the West.

No. 1 Gannett Co. said yesterday it is buying the Detroit Free Press from Knight Ridder Inc., and MediaNews Group Inc. will take the Detroit News from Gannett. Gannett and No. 2 Knight Ridder also announced an exchange of newspapers in Florida, Washington and Idaho.

Gannett is acquiring the Tallahassee Democrat from Knight Ridder. Knight Ridder is taking over from Gannett the Idaho Statesman newspaper in Boise and two Washington newspapers, the Olympian and the Bellingham Herald.

The new arrangement in Detroit will allow the News and Free Press in 2006 to go head-to-head each weekday morning and on Saturday, when the two now produce a combined edition. Under the new deal, the Free Press will alone publish a Sunday newspaper instead of the current joint paper.

Gannett spokeswoman Tara Connell said no job cuts are planned at the Detroit newspapers.