1.

[Now we're up to a unique piece, the knight. The knight is the only chess piece that can jump over other pieces, but it can't go very far in one leap. It moves in an L pattern, two squares in one directions and one square in another, or step-step-side, as my mother puts it. So if the knight is here on D5, it can move to these squares, step-step-side, or step-step-side. It's also interesting to note that the knight always moves from a light square to a dark square, or vice versa. Because of its counter-intuitive style, sometimes the knight can be confusing. So let's look at a graphic that might help you out.

{T:0}{B:rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/32/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR}{D:500}{H:b1b8g1g8}{D:1500}{B:1n4n1/48/1N4N1}{D:6000}{B:32/3N4/24}{D:1500}{H2:d4d3d2e2}{A:Td4e2}{D:1500}{R}{A:Td4d2}{D:1500}{A:Td2e2}{D:1500}{C}{R}{H:d4}{D:500}{H:d3}{A:Td4d3}{D:500}{H:d2}{A:Td3d2}{D:300}{H:e2}{A:Td2e2}{D:2200}{C}{R}{D:500}{X:d4}{P:BNd5}{D:2000}{H:b4b6c3e3f4f6e7c7}{D:1000}{A:Td5d6}{D:400}{A:Td6d7}{D:400}{A:Td7c7}{D:1200}{R}{A:Td5c5}{D:400}{A:Tc5b5}{D:300}{A:Tb5b6}{D:1300}{C}{R}{D:3000}{H:d5}{D:1000}{H:f4}{A:Td5f4}{D:2500}{C}{R}{W:j15g01}

]

2.

[In this graphic, you can see how many moves it takes the knight to reach each square. If you click on that square, Chess Master will play out the knight's path to reach it. By watching these movements, you'll start to become familiar with the flow of the knight.

Press Next to continue ...

{T:0}{B:64}{KNIGHT:In this graphic, you can see how many moves it takes the knight to reach each square. If you click on that square, Chess Master will play out the knight's path to reach it. By watching these movements, you'll start to become familiar with the flow of the knight. 

Press Next to continue ...

{W:j15g02};d5}

]

3.

[One thing you should notice is that the knight on D5 takes four moves to get to B7 or F7. Diagonally with one square in between is very far for a knight. So you can be very close to a knight but safe from attack.

{B:24/3N4/32 w}{T:0}{H:f7}{D:2500}{H:d5}{S:d5e3}{A:Td5e3}{H2:e3}{D:300}{S:e3g4}{A:Te3g4}{H2:g4}{D:300}{S:g4h6}{A:Tg4h6}{H2:h6}{D:300}{S:h6f7}{A:Th6f7}{W:j15g02a}

]

4.

[A knight is very good in a closed game, because it can jump over other pieces. 

We also want to find "outposts" for the knight. An outpost is a square deep in the enemy camp that an enemy pawn cannot attack.

{T:0}{B:8/2k2brp/1b1p1pr1/p1pPp3/PpN1P2P/1P2NP2/2P2K2/5RR1 w}{A:Cc4a5}{A:Cc4b6}{A:Cc4d6}{D:2000}{R}{S:c4b6}{D:500}{S:c7b6}{D:500}{S:e3c4}{A:Cc4b6}{D:1000}{R}{S:b6c7}{D:300}{S:c4a5}{W:j15g03}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{B:8/2k2brp/1b1p1pr1/p1pPp3/PpN1P2P/1P2NP2/2P2K2/5RR1 w}{D:1000}{S:e3f5}{H:f5}{A:Cf5g7}{A:Cf5d6}{D:1000}{R:f5g7}{S:g7g8}{D:500}{R}{S:c4d6}{G:f5d6}{H:d6}{A:Cd6f7}{D:1000}{R}{S:g8f8}{S:d6b5}{H:b5}{A:Cb5c7}{D:1000}{R}{S:c7d7}{S:h4h5}{A:Ch5g6}{D:1000}{R}{S:g6g8}{S:f5h6}{H:h6}{W:j15g04}{W:sil1000}

]

5.

[

{T:0}{B:32/3N4/24 w}{IJ:Click on all the squares defended by the knight.

  {W:j15g05}; 

c2b3b5c6e6f3f5e2;The knight can cover eight squares when placed in the center of the board. Good job. It's very important to notice how powerful the knight is in the middle of the board. The center is a theme we'll keep on coming back to throughout this Academy.

  {H:c2b3b5c6e6f3f5e2}{W:j15g06}{W:sil500}

  {W:j15g06a}{W:sil1000}{J};

You haven't selected all the squares.;

Incorrect!!! Remember, the knight moves two spaces forward, one to the side.}

]

6.

[

{T:0}{B:32/N7/24 w}{IJ:Now, in this position, touch all the squares the knight attacks.

  {W:j15g07}; 

b2c3b6c5;Good job! The knight can cover four squares on the side of the board. Of course, you remember the knight's touched eight squares when in the center of the board.

  {H:b2c3b6c5}

  {W:goodjob}{W:sil500}{W:j15g08}{W:sil1000}{J};

That's not all of them.;

Incorrect!!! Remember, the knight moves two spaces forward, one to the side.}

]

7.

[

{T:0}{B:56/N7 w}{IJ:Now, in this position, click on all the squares defended by the knight.

  {W:j15g09}; 

b3c2;Exactly. The knight can only cover two squares from the corner of the board.

{H:b3c2}{W:j15g10}{W:sil1000}{J};

That's not all of them.;

Incorrect. Remember, the knight moves two spaces forward, one to the side.}

]

8.

[So, the knight in the corner covers two squares. The knight in the side covers four squares. The knight in the center covers eight squares.

  We always want to centralize our knight; and this holds true with most of the chess pieces. Centralized pieces can go right. They can go left. They can go up. They can go down. They can go everywhere. With the knights, my first teacher used to always tell me, "A knight on the rim is grim." It's a good way to remember to centralize your knights.

{T:0}{B:56/N7 w}{D:1700}{H:c2b3}{D:1200}{B:32/N7/24 w}{D:1000}{H:b2c3b6c5}{D:1500}{B:32/3N4/24 w}{D:1000}{H:c2b3b5c6e6f3f5e2}{W:j15g11}{W:sil500}{W:j15g12}

]

9.

[

{B:32/3N4/24 w}{QB:This exercise will be good for training visualization. How many moves will it take the knight to get to G6? 

{D:3000}{H:g6}{W:j15g13};

2 moves;Sorry, that's not correct. 

The correct answer is "3 moves".

  {W:notquiteit}

  {H:d4}{S:d4f3}{A:Td4f3}{H2:f3}

  {D:300}{S:f3h4}{A:Tf3h4}{H2:h4}

  {D:300}{S:h4g6}{A:Th4g6}

  {W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J};

3 moves;That's right.{W:thatsright}

The correct answer is "3 moves".

  {H:d4}{S:d4f3}{A:Td4f3}{H2:f3}

  {D:300}{S:f3h4}{A:Tf3h4}{H2:h4}

  {D:300}{S:h4g6}{A:Th4g6}

  {W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J};

4 moves;Sorry, that's not correct. 

The right answer is "3 moves".

  {W:notquiteit}

  {H:d4}{S:d4f3}{A:Td4f3}{H2:f3}

  {D:300}{S:f3h4}{A:Tf3h4}{H2:h4}

  {D:300}{S:h4g6}{A:Th4g6}

  {W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J}

}

]

10.

[

{B:32/3N4/24 w}{QB:In this position, how many moves will it take the knight to get to B1?

{D:1000}{H:b1}{W:j15g14};

2 moves;Sorry, that's not the right answer.{W:notquiteit} 

The knight takes 3 moves to get to B1.

  {H:d4}{S:d4b3}{A:Td4b3}{H2:b3}

  {D:300}{S:b3d2}{A:Tb3d2}{H2:d2}

  {D:300}{S:d2b1}{A:Td2b1}

  {W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J};

3 moves;That's right.{W:goodjob}

The knight takes 3 moves to get to B1.

  {H:d4}{S:d4b3}{A:Td4b3}{H2:b3}

  {D:300}{S:b3d2}{A:Tb3d2}{H2:d2}

  {D:300}{S:d2b1}{A:Td2b1}

  {W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J};

4 moves;Sorry, that's not correct.{W:notquiteit}

The knight takes 3 moves to get to B1.

  {H:d4}{S:d4b3}{A:Td4b3}{H2:b3}

  {D:300}{S:b3d2}{A:Tb3d2}{H2:d2}

  {D:300}{S:d2b1}{A:Td2b1}

  {W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J}

}

]

11.

[

{B:32/3N4/24 w}{QB:How long will it take the knight to reach the G3 square?

{D:1000}{H:g3}{W:j15g15};

2 moves;That's right.{W:goodjob}

The knight takes 2 moves to get to G3.

  {H:d4}{S:d4e2}{A:Td4e2}{H2:e2}

  {D:300}{S:e2g3}{A:Te2g3}

  {W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J};

3 moves;Sorry, that's not the right answer.{W:notquiteit}

The knight takes 2 moves to get to G3.

  {H:d4}{S:d4e2}{A:Td4e2}{H2:e2}

  {D:300}{S:e2g3}{A:Te2g3}

  {W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J};

4 moves;Sorry, that's not correct.{W:notquiteit}

The knight takes 2 moves to get to G3.

  {H:d4}{S:d4e2}{A:Td4e2}{H2:e2}

  {D:300}{S:e2g3}{A:Te2g3}

  {W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J}

}

]

12.

[

{B:32/3N4/24 w}{QB:How many moves will it take for the knight to reach A8?

{D1000}{H:a8}{W:j15g16};

2 moves;Sorry, that's not the right answer.{W:notquiteit}  The knight takes 3 moves to get to A8.

  {H:d4}{S:d4b5}{A:Td4b5}{H2:b5}

  {D:300}{S:b5c7}{A:Tb5c7}{H2:c7}

  {D:300}{S:c7a8}{A:Tc7a8}

  {W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J};

3 moves;That's right.{W:excellent}

The knight takes 3 moves to get to A8.

  {H:d4}{S:d4b5}{A:Td4b5}{H2:b5}

  {D:300}{S:b5c7}{A:Tb5c7}{H2:c7}

  {D:300}{S:c7a8}{A:Tc7a8}

  {W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J};

4 moves;Sorry, that's not correct.{W:notquiteit}

The knight takes 3 moves to get to A8.

  {H:d4}{S:d4b5}{A:Td4b5}{H2:b5}

  {D:300}{S:b5c7}{A:Tb5c7}{H2:c7}

  {D:300}{S:c7a8}{A:Tc7a8}

  {W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{W:sil1000}{J}

}

]

13.

[The most common weapon of the knight is the fork. Do you see how the white knight can attack all of black's pieces if moved to the appropriate square?

{B:r3k3/16/1q1N4/32 w}{V:{SAVE}The most common weapon of the knight is the fork. Do you see how the white knight can attack all of black's pieces if moved to the appropriate square?

{W:j15g17};

${S:d5c7}

  {D:1000}{A:Cc7e8}{A:Cc7a8}{A:Cc7b5}

  {W:j15g18}{W:sil1000}{J}

$d5c7;Good work! Knight G7 check. You can attack all of the black pieces.

  {W:goodwork}{W:sil500}

  {D:1000}{A:Cc7e8}{A:Cc7a8}{A:Cc7b5}

  {W:j15g18}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. The knight cannot attack all pieces from that location.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

Remember, the knight moves two squares forward, and one square to the side.}

]

14.

[What is black's best move? 

Here we see that black has two possible forks. Play the best one.

{B:1k6/8/Q7/3n4/16/2K3R1/8 b}{V:{SAVE}What is black's best move? 

Here we see that black has two possible forks. Play the best one.

  {W:j15g19}{W:sil500}{W:j15g20};

$Knight B4 check wins the queen. When deciding between two possible forks, always go for the most valuable pieces.

  {S:d5b4}{A:Cb4c2}{A:Cb4a6}{D:700}{R:b4c2}{S:c2b3}

  {D:500}{R}{S:b4a6}{W:j15g21}{W:sil1000}{W:j15g21a}{W:sil1000}{J}

$d5b4;Good job! Knight B4 check wins the queen. When deciding between two possible forks, always go for the most valuable pieces.

  {A:Cb4c2}{A:Cb4a6}{W:goodjob}{W:sil500}{R:b4c2}{S:c2b3}

  {D:500}{R}{S:b4a6}{W:j15g21}{W:sil500}{W:j15g21a}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. Are you sure this is a fork?{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

d5e3:$c Incorrect. 1.Ne3 is not best.

{W:notbest}{W:sil500}{W:j15g21a}{RETRY};

Think about the value of the pieces you are attacking.}

]

15.

[In this position, you can combine the bishop and knight to mate in two.

{B:6k1/5N2/6K1/8/1B6/24 w}{V:{SAVE}In this position, you can combine the bishop and knight to mate in two.

{W:j15g22};

$Knight H6 check forces the black king to take refuge on H8, because the white bishop guards the F8 square.

  {H:c5d6e7f8}{H2:f7g7h7}{D:500}{S:f7h6}{D:500}{A:Ch6g8}{H:g8}{D:2000}{S:g8h8}

  {D:1600}{A:Tb4f8}{W:j15g23a}{W:sil1000}{J}

$f7h6;That's right! Knight H6 check forces the black king to take refuge on H8, because the white bishop guards the F8 square.

  {W:thatsright}{H:c5d6e7f8}{H2:f7g7h7}{D:1000}{A:Ch6g8}{H:g8}

  {D:2000}{S:g8h8}{D:1600}{A:Tb4f8}{W:j15g23a}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. Be careful not to let the black king escape! 

{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

Try to trap the black king in the corner.

}

]

16.

[Now you have mate in one. Do you see it?

{B:7k/8/6KN/8/1B6/24 w}{V:{SAVE}Now you have mate in one. Do you see it?

{W:j15g24};

$Bishop C3 check mate. The knight on H6 guards the G8 square, the white king guards H7, and the bishop on C3 delivers the final blow. So here you can see that white uses the bishop, the knight, and the king to corral the black king. Coordinating your pieces in this way is essential to attacking chess.

  {S:b4c3}{D:3000}{A:Th6g8}{H:g8}{D:2000}{A:Tg6h7}{H:h7}

  {D:2500}{A:Cc3h8}{H:c3d4e5f6g7h8}{D:6500}{C}{R}{W:j15g25}{W:sil1000}{J}

$b4c3;Bishop C3 check mate. The knight on H6 guards the G8 square, the white king guards H7, and the bishop on C3 delivers the final blow. So here you can see that white uses the bishop, the knight, and the king to corral the black king. Coordinating your pieces in this way is essential to attacking chess.

  {D:3000}{A:Th6g8}{H:g8}{D:2000}{A:Tg6h7}{H:h7}

  {D:2500}{A:Cc3h8}{H:c3d4e5f6g7h8}{D:6500}{C}{R}{W:j15g25}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. This is not mate.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

Check what piece doesn't contribute to holding the black king in the corner.

}

]

17.

[Remember the theme of discovered attacks. Anywhere the white knight moves will open up a discovered check from the white queen on C3. Knights are very good for discoveries. What's your best move?

{B:r3B2k/8/5N2/16/2Q3n1/r6q/2K5 w}{V:{SAVE}Remember the theme of discovered attacks. Anywhere the white knight moves will open up a discovered check from the white queen on C3. Knights are very good for discoveries. What's your best move?

  {W:j15g26};

$The key idea is to move a knight to a square that sets up a support mate. After knight H5 check, the black king has to move, either to G8 or H7. In either case, there's mate in one for white. Do you see it? 

  {D:4500}{A:Cc3h8}{S:f6h5}{D:2500}{R}{S:h8g8}

  {D:700}{S:g8h8}{S:h8h7}{W:j15g27}{W:sil1000}{J}

$f6h5;Good job! The key idea is to move a knight to a square that sets up a support mate. After knight H5 check, the black king has to move, either to G8 or H7. In either case, there's mate in one for white. Do you see it? 

  {W:goodjob}{W:sil500}{A:Cc3h8}{D:7000}{R}{S:h8g8}

  {D:700}{S:g8h8}{S:h8h7}{W:j15g27}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Sorry, that's not quite good.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

f6g4:$c This is a good move. But you have better.

  {W:notbest}{RETRY};

We are working on the theme, discovered check. Keep this in mind as you ponder your move. Also try to visualize more than just a good capture.}

]

18.

[Now mate in 1.

{B:r3B3/7k/8/7N/8/2Q3n1/r6q/2K5 w}{V:{SAVE}Now mate in 1.{W:j15i40a};

$Queen G7 check mate. The knight on H5 guards the G7 square, and the queen finishes the game. So here you see queen and knight coordinating together.

As a general rule, queen and knight is usually a little stronger than queen and bishop, because the bishop and queen are a little bit redundant, while the queen combines with the unique powers of the knight to be a devastating attacking force.

  {D:300}{S:c3g7}{H:g6g7g8h6h7h8}

  {D:2500}{A:Gh5g7}{W:j15g28}{W:sil1000}{W:j15g29}

$c3g7;Queen G7 check mate. The knight on H5 guards the G7 square, and the queen finishes the game. So here you see queen and knight coordinating together.

As a general rule, queen and knight is usually a little stronger than queen and bishop, because the bishop and queen are a little bit redundant, while the queen combines with the unique powers of the knight to be a devastating attacking force.

  {D:300}{H:g6g7g8h6h7h8}

  {D:2500}{A:Gh5g7}{W:j15g28}{W:sil1000}{W:j15g29};

$c Sorry, that's not correct.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

Can you see a square your queen can move to that places the black king in check - and leaves your queen protected?}

]

