The Ultimate Guide to the Knight Chess Piece

In chess, the knight is a unique, dynamic, and unpredictable piece.

In this guide, we will look at the history of the knight, how it moves, and explore practical ways to use it effectively in the game.

History of the Knight

The knight’s unique ability to jump over other pieces and its L-shaped movement have been around since the earliest versions of chess. In Chaturunga, the ancient Indian precursor to chess, the pieces represented different factions of the military. The knight, or aśva, symbolized the cavalry and moved just as it does today. Throughout history, craftsmen have depicted it as thousands of different mounted warriors from various cultures and mythologies. 

In different languages, people refer to it variously as the knight, horse, rider, or horseman. Consistently, it has been represented as a horse or a horse and rider. European medieval chess sets often featured more realistic representations of a knight, like those in the Lewis and Charlemagne Chessmen. Long before pieces were standardized in the Staunton Pattern, the knight was predominantly represented as the horse’s head and neck. 

The knight’s unique and unpredictable movement is a key part of chess’s unique character and symbolism. To continue, let’s explore exactly how the piece moves before learning techniques to use it effectively.

Knight Piece Movement 

The knight moves in an L-shape: two squares vertically and then one square horizontally, or two squares horizontally and one square vertically. 

It is the only piece that can jump over another piece, with the exception of the king and rook during castling. This ability gives it the special ability to check the king without “seeing” it as other pieces have to. Consequently, the knight features in some interesting checkmates and tactical patterns. 

Using the Knight Effectively 

Perhaps even more than bishops, the value of knights is based on their position on the board. Both pieces have a three-point (three pawn) value, but many regard the bishop as being slightly more valuable. Nevertheless, by finding a good position for your knight, you can turn it into an incredibly powerful piece. 

Because of the knight's irregular movement, it is also part of some of the most dazzling tactics in chess. In this section, we will look at positional principles and key tactics to ensure you can use your knights effectively.

How to Position Your Knight

The basic principle of positioning your knight is simple. The maximum number of squares it can attack is eight, and the minimum is two (in the corner of the board). A knight attacking two squares is about as powerful as a pawn, but one attacking eight can dominate an entire game.

Knight Development 

Knights can jump over pieces, so they are often the first pieces to develop in the opening. A common example is the Four Knights Game in which both players develop all of their knights before any other pieces. Another is the Two Knights Defense, a variation of the Italian Game.

To get the maximum of eight squares, you need to position knights towards the center. This is why the most common development squares of a knight are c3, f3, c6, and f6. Knights developed to the edge of the board attack fewer squares, hence the expression: A knight on the rim is dim.

From a central position, they attack multiple squares in the center and can defend central pawns. 

In more aggressive openings, knights often coordinate with bishops to threaten the squares near the king. The Fried Liver Attack is perhaps the most common example.

Middlegame Knights

In the middle game, knights can be defensive and attacking pieces. Defensive knights might stay on their development square, protecting the pawns near the king, exerting pressure on central pawns, and hampering your opponent’s development. 

Offensive knights will coordinate with other pieces to create tactics or find a way to infiltrate an opponent’s position. One common way to do this is via an Outpost. An outposted knight is protected by a pawn or pawns in the enemy territory. Centrally positioned outposts control many squares and create vulnerabilities. Strong outposts are especially hard to get rid of without creating other weaknesses.

Endgame Knights

The knight's L-shaped movement can be less effective in an open endgame. While bishops, rooks, and queens can quickly cross the board, knights have to move in complex ways to get to specific squares. However, in closed-endgame positions, knights can be much more mobile than bishops.

In this example, White is completely winning despite the equal material. This is because Black’s bishop is restricted by the pawns, while the White knight and king can infiltrate the position. 

Related: Develop a Perfect Endgame Chess Strategy

Key Knight Tactics and Checkmates

The unpredictability of the knight's movement makes it an exceptional tactical piece. It is a master of forks, excellent at checkmating a seemingly safe king, and surprisingly tricky to deal with in an endgame. 

Let’s look at some of the most common and interesting knight tactics.

Forks

The fork is perhaps the most fundamental tactic there is. By attacking two or more pieces at once, you force your opponent to choose the best of bad options. The knight’s ability to attack eight squares in different directions makes it a highly effective piece for forks. 

While bishops, rooks, and queens are very strong, their linear movement makes it easier to predict their attacks. Knights can move into unexpected squares, and sometimes pieces you thought were completely safe are under attack.

Double Checks

One of the most powerful forcing moves in chess is the double check. Often, they involve a knight. 

The double check is a form of discovered attack. This is when you move a piece out of the way of a long-range piece (rook, bishop, or queen), revealing an attack on an opponent’s piece. 

In the case of double check, the attacked piece is the king, and the moved piece also checks the king. Usually, kings can escape checks through blocks or captures, but with a double check, the king must move. 

Windmill Attack

Another version of the discovered attack is the so-called Windmill Attack.

In this position, anywhere the knight moves, the king is in check. As such, it can continuously attack pieces and re-check the king. This powerful tactic was made famous in Bobby Fischer’s Game of the Century.

Related: 7 Famous Chess Games You Should Commit To Memory

Greek Gift Sacrifice

A Greek Gift is a common type of sacrifice in which the knight has a key role, coordinating with pieces. A bishop gives itself up on h2 or h7, encouraging the king to capture. The knight then delivers a check, which draws out the king, initiating a king chase. Or, it is forced to retreat, where it is checkmated by the queen (which is no longer blocked in by the knight).

Arabian Mate

A common checkmate using a rook and a knight is the Arabian Mate. The knight is used to cut off the king’s escape squares and protect the rook when it delivers checkmate.

Smothered Mate

Any chess player will tell you that one of the most satisfying checkmates is the Smothered Mate. This type of checkmate is made possible by the unique abilities of the knight.

Here, it seems that the black king is safe with two rooks on the back rank, but after the queen sacrifice (Qg8+), black must recapture with the rook. Now, the black king is surrounded by its own pieces, and the knight can deliver checkmate (Nf7#). 

Conclusion: Never Underestimate A Knight

Despite being considered the lowest valued chess piece, aside from a pawn, knights win games again and again. Especially in beginner and intermediate chess, the knight's unpredictability makes it a very strong piece. Often in won endgames, a knight will fork a king and rook or king and queen, completely turning the game around. 

As we’ve seen, so much of what a knight can do depends on where it is positioned. With this in mind, in your next games, explore how to get your knight to the most active squares and always keep an eye out for strong outposts.