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Chess rules · beginner

How the Knight Moves

The knight jumps in an L-shape: two squares one way, then one square to the side.

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touch_appLearn it by doing: read the short explanation, then play it on the board.

Quick answer

The knight moves in an L-shape: two squares in a straight line, then one square to the side. It is the only piece that can jump over other pieces. A knight always lands on a square of the opposite colour to the one it left, and it captures only on the square where it lands.

Step by step

The knight moves in an L: two squares in one direction, then one square to the side. It's the only piece that can jump over others! Worth about 3 pawns.
A handy fact: every knight move lands on the opposite colour square.

Common mistakes

  • Thinking the knight captures pieces it jumps over. It only captures on its landing square.
  • Putting knights on the edge: 'a knight on the rim is dim'. From the corner it reaches only two squares.
  • Forgetting knight forks: a knight can attack two or more pieces at once, and they can't block it.

Tips from the lesson

  • From b1, the knight can reach a3, c3 or d2.
  • Knights jump over pieces. Plan two moves ahead.

Where you'll use this

Knight Forkarrow_forwardA knight fork is a knight jumping to a square where it attacks two valuable pieces at once, often the king and the queen (a "royal fork").Smothered Matearrow_forwardA smothered mate is a checkmate by a knight against a king that is completely surrounded by its own pieces.Arabian Matearrow_forwardThe Arabian mate is one of the oldest checkmates: a rook gives check next to a king in the corner, and a knight both protects the rook and covers the king's last escape square..Anastasia's Matearrow_forwardAnastasia's mate traps a king on the edge: a knight covers the squares in front of it, the king's own pawn blocks another, and a queen or rook gives check down the edge file..

FAQ

Can a knight jump over pieces?add

Yes, it's the only piece that can, of either colour. That's why it can move out at the very start of the game.

How many squares can a knight reach?add

Up to eight from the centre, but only two from a corner and three or four from the edge.

Why does the knight change colour every move?add

Its L-shape is an odd number of squares, so it always lands on the opposite colour. Useful for counting how many moves a knight needs.

Is the knight worth the same as a bishop?add

About 3 points each. Knights shine in closed positions, bishops in open ones.