The Knight

This document covers the basic moves of the Knight and Knight strategies.

SteveB

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8,2,4,16,32,4,2,8,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,129,129,129,129,129,129,129,129,136,130,132,144,160,132,130,136|2,5,3,0,targetmove.png,0,2,7,3,0,targetmove.png,0,0,6,0,0,yellowhl.png,R,2,0,3,0,targetmove.png,0,2,2,3,0,targetmove.png,0,0,1,0,0,yellowhl.png,R,5,0,3,0,targetmove.png,0,5,2,3,0,targetmove.png,0,7,1,0,0,yellowhl.png,R,5,5,3,0,targetmove.png,0,5,7,3,0,targetmove.png,0,7,6,0,0,yellowhl.png,R|  The Knight (♘,♞) moves in an L shaped pattern.  As shown here it moves two squares vertical and one square left or right.  Of course if the position allowed it can also move two squares horizontal and one square up or down.

The Knight captures in the same way that it moves.  You simply replace the enemy piece with the Knight at the end of it's move.||0,0,0,0,32,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,160,0,0,0|1,2,3,0,targetmove.png,0,1,4,3,0,targetmove.png,0,2,1,3,0,targetmove.png,0,2,5,3,0,targetmove.png,0,4,1,3,0,targetmove.png,0,4,5,3,0,targetmove.png,0,5,2,3,0,targetmove.png,0,5,4,3,0,targetmove.png,0,3,3,4,0,green_overlay.png,0|  The red arrows show all the squares that the Knight can not move to.  You can think of the moves that a Knight makes as the moves that the Rook and Bishop can not make.  The red arrows are where a Rook could move, the blue arrows are where a Bishop could move and the target dots are where the Knight can move.

A helpful tip to keep in mind when looking for available moves for your Knight is Knights always move to a different color than what they are currently on.  And the move looks like an L.

Because the knight can not deliver checkmate against an opponent with only it's king for help the knight is called a minor piece.  The bishop is also a minor piece.|3,4,3,5,red,3,2,3,1,red,2,3,1,3,red,4,3,5,3,red,2,2,1,1,blue,4,2,5,1,blue,4,4,5,5,blue,2,4,1,5,blue|8,2,4,16,32,4,0,8,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,129,129,129,129,129,129,129,129,136,130,132,144,160,132,130,136|0,6,4,0,blue_overlay.png,0,2,5,4,0,blue_overlay.png,0,0,6,1,0,aimage.png,0|Knight Tactics and Strategy:

The Knight's ability to 'jump over' other pieces (either it's own or it's enemy's) means it tends to be at its most powerful in closed positions, in contrast to that of a bishop.

A knight should always be close to where the action is, meaning it is best used on areas of the board where the opponent's pieces are clustered or close together. Pieces are generally more powerful if placed near the center of the board, but this is particularly true for a knight.|6,0,5,2,blue|8,2,4,16,32,4,0,8,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,129,129,129,129,129,129,129,129,136,130,132,144,160,132,130,136|0,6,4,0,blue_overlay.png,0,2,5,4,0,blue_overlay.png,0,0,6,1,0,aimage.png,0|Knight Tactics and Strategy:

Because of the Knight's ability to 'jump over' other pieces 
a person cannot block a knight check. There are only 3 ways to get out of check: block, run or capture. It is impossible to block a knight check!|6,0,5,2,blue|0,0,0,0,32,0,0,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,130,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,160,0,0,0|2,1,3,0,targetmove.png,0,2,3,3,0,targetmove.png,0,3,0,3,0,targetmove.png,0,3,4,3,0,targetmove.png,0,5,0,3,0,targetmove.png,0,5,4,3,0,targetmove.png,0,6,1,3,0,targetmove.png,0,6,3,3,0,targetmove.png,0,4,2,0,0,yellowhl.png,R,1,5,3,0,targetmove.png,0,2,6,3,0,targetmove.png,0,0,7,0,0,yellowhl.png,R|  The knight in the center can attack eight squares.  A knight on the edge of the board attacks only three or four squares (depending on its exact location) and the knight in the corner only two.  A knight near the center of the board has more influence on the board.

||0,0,0,0,32,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,132,0,0,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,160,0,0,0|2,6,3,0,targetmove.png,0,3,5,3,0,targetmove.png,0,5,5,3,0,targetmove.png,0,6,6,3,0,targetmove.png,0,4,7,0,0,yellowhl.png,R|  A knight needs to be careful of the bishop.  In this example the bishop is dominating the knight.  There is no move the knight can make where the black bishop can not capture it.||0,0,0,0,32,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,160,0,0,0,0,136,0,0,0,0,0|3,2,1,0,aimage.png,B,5,3,1,0,blank.png,B,6,5,1,0,kingattack.png,0|  The knight is very useful in executing a fork or double attack.

Here the white knight just moved and is now attacking both black's king and rook.  And since that put the black king in check, black must move it's king and forfeit it's rook.|3,5,2,7,red|0,0,0,0,32,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,4,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,8,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,129,130,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,129,129,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,160,0|3,3,3,0,targetmove.png,0,5,4,4,0,yellow_overlay.png,0,3,3,4,0,yellow_overlay.png,0,2,5,4,0,red_overlay.png,0,4,1,4,0,red_overlay.png,0|  Here if the black knight moves to d4 it can attack both the white rook and the white bishop at the same time.|4,5,3,3,green|8,2,4,16,32,4,2,8,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,129,129,129,129,129,129,129,129,136,130,132,144,160,132,130,136|7,6,4,0,red_overlay.png,0,7,1,4,0,red_overlay.png,0,0,1,4,0,red_overlay.png,0,0,6,4,0,red_overlay.png,0,0,6,0,0,yellow_f.png,0,7,6,0,0,yellow_f.png,0,7,1,0,0,yellow_f.png,0,0,1,0,0,yellow_f.png,0|History of the Knight:
  The move of the Knight is one of the longest-surviving moves in chess, having remained unchanged since before the seventh century.||

SteveB Premium Icon - 06:11 PM December 26, 2015

Thank you theville that's a good suggestion.

theville Premium Icon - 06:11 PM December 26, 2015

You might consider adding that a person cannot block a knight check. There are only 3 ways to get out of check: block, run or capture. It is impossible to block a knight check!