Knight (chess): movement, strategy, and basics
Knight
Definition
The knight is one of the six distinct piece types in chess. Each side starts with two knights, positioned on b1 and g1 for White and on b8 and g8 for Black. It is classified as a minor piece, carries the standard material value of three pawns, and is represented by the symbol N (or Kt in older texts).
Movement & Rules
A knight moves in an “L-shape,” leaping two squares in one orthogonal direction and then one square perpendicular to that direction. Because it jumps, it is the only piece that can pass over other men; only the destination square must be vacant or occupied by an opponent’s piece (which is then captured).
- On an empty 8×8 board a knight has up to eight legal moves; edge and corner placement reduce this number.
- The knight’s unique geometry makes it the sole piece that simultaneously attacks opposite-colored squares on successive moves.
Strategic Themes & Typical Usage
Knights thrive in closed or semi-closed structures where their ability to hop over blockades overshadows the long-range power of bishops and rooks.
- Centralization: A knight on e5 or d5 controls up to eight key squares and can exert strong tactical pressure.
- Outposts: When anchored by a pawn on the 4th, 5th, or 6th rank, a knight becomes a practically irrevocable force— e.g., a white knight on f5 in many Sicilian structures.
- Forks: Because of its non-linear attack pattern, the knight is the champion of double attacks; the classic “family fork” (king, queen, and rook) is a frequent tactical motif.
- Blockade & Defense: Knights are superb blockaders of passed pawns and often excel in endgames with pawns on one flank only (e.g., knight vs. bishop endings with pawns on the same color complex).
- Piece Cooperation: Knights combine brilliantly with queens (smothered mate), bishops (powerful batteries on dark/light squares), and rooks (knight–rook mating nets).
Illustrative Examples
1. The “Fried Liver” Tactic
Opening: Italian Game — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6
4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5? 6. Nxf7!
White’s knight sacrifice lures the black king into the open and
demonstrates the piece’s attacking potential.
2. The Family Fork in a World Championship Game
Anand – Kramnik, World Championship 2008 (Game 3)
…Nxe4! placed a knight on d2 with check, forking queen and rook.
Although Kramnik eventually untangled, the tactic
earned Anand a pawn and initiated lasting pressure that led to victory.
3. Smothered Mate
A textbook mating pattern: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nd4 4. Nxe5 Qg5 5. Nxf7 Qxg2 6. Rf1 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Nf3#.
The knight delivers mate as the black queen seals flight squares.
The confined king and the knight’s short-range power create
an elegant finish.
Historical Notes
• The knight’s ancestry traces back to the horse in the 6th-century Indian
game chaturanga. When chess spread to medieval Europe, feudal society
naturally rebranded the mounted piece as the knight, symbol of aristocratic
cavalry.
• Carved horse-head knights became a hallmark of Staunton-pattern sets
(standardized 1849), partly to avoid the
confusion caused by earlier abstract designs.
• In early Persian rules, the knight
retained its modern move but could not give mate by itself—a restriction
lifted as the game evolved.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Knight’s Tour: The mathematical puzzle of visiting every square exactly once with a knight fascinated Leonhard Euler and even appears in the 12th-century Sanskrit poem Raghuvaṃśa.
- The spelling “horse” is still used in several languages (e.g., French cheval, Spanish caballo).
- Because a knight alternates square colors every move, it needs a minimum of four moves to return to its starting square.
- During the famous Kasparov vs Deep Blue rematch (New York, 1997),
Kasparov accused the computer of “possessing a new sense of
human knight power
” after a surprising 36…Ng4! in Game 2, a move later shown to be the result of the engine’s brute-force calculation.
Mini-Exercise
Diagram (White to move): K on g1, N on d4, Q on e2, pawns on f2 g2 h2.
Black king on g8, queen on d8, rook on f8, pawns on g7 h7.
Can you find the immediate tactic that wins material?
(Hint: look for a fork on e6.)
Summary
The knight is the most idiosyncratic and tactically explosive piece in chess. Its capacity to leap, fork, and dominate closed positions makes it an indispensable asset for both attackers and defenders. Mastery of knight maneuvers— from simple hops to deep rerouting plans—remains an essential component of high-level chess strategy.