What does the Knight do in Chess?
It can jump over other pieces. It can give a check to the king, but it cannot kill the king. It can capture other pieces like queen, rook, bishop, knight and pawns. it can give a checkmate to the king. It can give a fork and attacks more than one piece at the same time. A knight is strong in blocked positions, stronger than a bishop. A knight has less value than a rook.
Can a Knight move backwards in Chess?
Yes!
The Chess Knight should always be placed close to where the action is. Especially in the center it works fine and attacks eight squares on the board.
But on the edge of the board it is weak, as it attacks only four squares on the board. And to place it right in the corner is just insane, as it attacks only two squares! You are going to lose if you do that!
Keep in mind! Place the Knight into the center.
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| The Knight attacks eight squares. Do you see that? | Here it attacks only four squares. Pretty weak, isn’t it? |  |
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| Boy, it is just controlling two squares! This is just a bloody nightmare. My grandmother plays better Chess than that! | Yeah, I love that! Look where the black animal is placed. This is very strong. It is sitting right in the neighbourhood of the enemy King. That’s the right way to play chess! It’s like a bomb hitting the enemy camp. |  |
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| It attacks (a double attack is called a Fork) the King and the Rook. Black loses the Rook. | The Knight attacks the black Pawns on c4, d7 and g6. |  |
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| It double attacks the King and the Rook. | Here it does it again, the King and the Queen are attacked. |
Watch out for FORKS!
A multiple attack is the most dangerous weapon of the Chess Knight.
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| Another FORK on the Bishop and the Rook. | Here another double attack on two chess pieces. |  |
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| When you start a new game, develop your Knights near the center, don’t go to the red marked squares. | White shows here that he is a beginner as he developes his Knights to the corner squares. |  |
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| The black Knight checks the white King. He must move away. | It checks the white King. He can go somewhere else OR the bishop can take the Knight away. |
You are White – Win it!
How to win the game above as White?
I know it is hard to win the position above when you are a beginner.
1. Penetrate with your king and knight into the enemy position and capture the black pawns. The weakest pawn is the pawn on d5! Go there and attack it with king and knight together, then capture it. Your king and your knight must work together like a family. After you have captured the black d-pawn the black e-pawn becomes weak because it is not protected by a pawn anymore. Capture the e-pawn as well then you can move your pawns ahead.
2. Push your pawns to the last rank with the help of your king and knight and promote one into a queen.
3. Chase the black king to the edge of the board and give a checkmate with your queen.
Read here about the Chess Pieces Value
Return to Basic Chess Rules
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