Exercise 8.1Find the move
White to move
White to move and draw.
8
Endgame Essentials · Kapilash Chess Academy
Knight against Pawn
Stopping pawns with the knight
In this lesson you will learn
- How a knight stops a pawn by controlling squares in front of it
- Checks that gain time for the knight
- Why a rook pawn on the seventh is the knight's worst enemy
- Using the king to help the knight
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
8.1 The Knight as a Defender
A knight is clumsy when it has to stop a passed pawn, because it needs several moves to change direction. The good news: if the knight controls any square in front of the pawn, or can give a check that gains time, it can usually stop the pawn. The most dangerous case is a rook pawn on the seventh rank: the knight has very few squares near the corner.
Diagram 8.1White to move
Example 8.1 · Checking to gain time
Black's pawn is two steps from queening and the white king is far away.
The knight heads for f3, where it controls g1, the queening square. When the black king attacks it, the knight gives checks and comes back to g1 or a square covering it. A knight in front of the pawn, controlling the promotion square, is the ideal defence.
Diagram 8.2White to move
Example 8.2 · Back in time
The knight is on the other side of the board, but there is a fast route back.
With 1.♘e6+ the knight gains a tempo with check and then heads for d2 and b1. Knight routes are hard to see, so count the moves to a square in front of the pawn, and look for checks on the way.
Diagram 8.3White to move
Example 8.3 · A check wins the pawn
Black's pawn is one step from queening and the knight seems too far away.
1.♘f3+! attacks the king and covers d2 at the same time; after the king moves, 2.♘xd2 wins the pawn. A knight check that also attacks the queening square or the pawn is the defender's best friend.
Remember
- A knight controlling a square in front of the pawn can usually stop it.
- Checks gain time; use them to bring the knight back.
- A rook pawn on the seventh is the hardest pawn for a knight.
- Count knight routes square by square.
Exercises · Lesson 8
Every exercise has been checked with a chess engine: exactly one move keeps the best result. Find it and play it on the board.
Exercise 8.2Find the move
White to move
White to move and draw.
Exercise 8.3Find the move
White to move
White to move and draw.
Exercise 8.4Find the move
White to move
White to move and draw.
Exercise 8.5Find the move
White to move
White to move and draw.
Exercise 8.6Find the move
White to move
White to move and draw.
Exercise 8.7Find the move
White to move
White to move and draw.
Exercise 8.8Find the move
White to move
White to move and draw.
Exercise 8.9Find the move
White to move
White to move and draw.
Exercise 8.10Find the move
White to move
White to move and draw.
Exercise 8.11Find the move
White to move
White to move and draw.
Exercise 8.12Find the move
White to move
White to move and draw.