The Knight

The jumping piece

In this lesson you will learn

The L-shaped move
Jumping over pieces
The knight fork

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5.1 The L-shape

The knight moves in an L-shape: two squares in a straight line and then one square to the side. It always lands on a square of the other colour.

The knight’s movesFrom d4 the knight can jump to 8 squares. Draw an L from d4 to each dot.

5.2 The knight can jump

The knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces, its own and the opponent’s. It only captures the piece on the square where it lands.

Jumping outThe knight on b1 jumps over the pawns to a3 or c3. That is why knights can move in the very first move of the game.

Diagram 5.1White to move

Diagram 5.1 · Jump and capture

Two black pieces are close to the knight on g1.

Capture a black piece with the knight.

5.3 The knight fork

A knight attacking two pieces at once is called a knight fork. It is dangerous because the knight’s attack cannot be blocked.

Remember

The knight moves in an L: two squares straight, one to the side.
It always lands on the other colour.
It can jump over pieces.
Knights are strongest in the centre and weak in the corners.

Exercises · Lesson 5

Move the white knight. Count “two squares straight, one to the side”.

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