Questions tagged [knights]
Questions relating to the Knight
99
questions
5
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2
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The ultimate decision of the eternal bishop vs knight question
The following is...disturbing.
[FEN "bbbbkbbb/bbbbbbbb/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
Black is about 15*3-38, say 10 units up (as Black will also grab a pawn and exchange on b2 or ...
17
votes
13
answers
4k
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Is there an equivalent to “a knight on the rim is dim” in other languages?
When explaining chess to beginners, I often use the famous rhyme, “a knight on the rim is dim”. Is there any equivalent (rhyming) phrase in other languages?
I will accept any answer which shows at ...
7
votes
1
answer
868
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Can the "bishop pair advantage" be supported by statistics?
I heard a lot about the advantage of having a bishop pair and I am interested in the statistics about this. More specifically, if we collect a huge number of games (master games only, or games ...
1
vote
1
answer
2k
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Why did Andrea Botez ask Magnus Carlsen “How does the knight move?” after a game in the 2021 World Chess Championship?
Andrea Botez asked world chess champion Magnus Carlsen “How does the knight move?” in a press conference after a game in the 2021 World Chess Championship. It seems like such an obvious question that ...
1
vote
1
answer
87
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Knight Moves Around the Board [duplicate]
It is well known that a lone knight can move all around the board covering each square once and only once. Is this possible when the lone knight starts only on certain squares ? How many unique ...
2
votes
3
answers
211
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Knights on c3 & f3, bishops on d3 & e3 - what is this called, and is it sound?
Sometimes when opening I fall into this odd rut of developing knights to C3 and F3, and bishops to D3 and E3. (Or, as black, C6, F6, D6 and E6). For instance, the position after 7.Be3:
[FEN "&...
19
votes
4
answers
4k
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How to move knights so that black moves first?
From move 0, what shortest-possible sequence of moves could be played so that the pieces are arranged exactly as standard board setup (with allowed swapping of same-color knights), but it is black's ...
3
votes
1
answer
540
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Why is Ne4 considered as an inaccuracy whereas it is one of very few moves which saves d3 pawn?
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1p3ppp/p4n2/2Pp4/1Pn5/P1Bp3P/3N2P1/R2QN2K b - - 4 21"]
With Black to move Ne4 is not even in top 5 moves and engine says its an inaccuracy. I know it considers fastest winning ...
5
votes
2
answers
623
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I am trying to understand chess moves
Hi I am trying to learn chess, and when I review my moves, I just don't understand how Nd4 is a good move and how nh4 is a blunder.
Thanks.
1
vote
0
answers
48
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Is there a term for the position where two knights support one another? [duplicate]
Is there a term for the position where two knights support one another? I thought I might have seen such a term somewhere, but now I can't find it.
3
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4
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Non-Standard Knight Development
From its starting square, a knight has 3 legal moves: The “standard” one (c3, f3, c6, f6), the “weird” one (a3, h3, a6, h6) and the “other” one (d2, e2, d7, e7).
In my games, I almost always do the ...
5
votes
4
answers
390
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Having knightmares, what to do?
I just hate when my opponent has the knights because most of my blunders happen due to them. I generally like endgames where my opponent doesn't have the knight. I also hate when the Knight enters my ...
10
votes
2
answers
4k
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Maximum number of knights populating a chess board so that no knights are attacking one another
The 8 queen's puzzle is a well-known puzzle involving placing 8 queens on a chessboard so that no queen attacks another queen. It is more or less obvious that 8 is the maximum number of queens that ...
-3
votes
1
answer
77
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King and Three Knights v/s King in end game [duplicate]
Is it possible to checkmate with Three Knights and King v/s King in end game?
If yes, is this possible within 50 moves?
If no, Why?
0
votes
0
answers
44
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Two Knights checkmate [duplicate]
Even though there are positions on the chess board with two knights checkmate by bringing the king in the corner, why it is not possible to checkmate the King?
Is it difficult to bring the opponent ...
2
votes
2
answers
214
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Bird's opening problems
I've played the reversed Leningrad Dutch for some time, and I have the problem that when I play Nd2, Black forks my rook and queen on f6->g4->e3. I never get to push my e-pawn before Black forks ...
3
votes
2
answers
359
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Rook+Knight Endgame-Play For Checkmate?
I found myself in this position as Black during a recent endgame situation with White to move.
[FEN "8/7k/2R4p/2p3p1/2N2p2/P4PnP/1P2r1K1/8 w - - 4 43"]
What is a good way to approach ...
6
votes
1
answer
628
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Why pin knights early in the opening?
I am a beginner amateur player, and I have been thinking about openings. On lots of occasions the opponent pins the white knight on Nc3 or Nf3 (as black) or the black knight on Nc6/Nf6. What is the ...
7
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5
answers
1k
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Why is Ne2 better than Nf3?
I played Nf3 for attacking on king side which is about to castle having some plans to make a battery in future after castling but I feel Ne2 is making a block for Re1 at some point. Any suggestions?
[...
11
votes
3
answers
2k
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Good Knight Against Bad Bishop Endgame - A More Constructive Plan?
I reached the position below in a recent tournament game
[Event "Recent Tournament"]
[Site "Deepest, Darkest Oxfordshire"]
[Date "Feb 2020"]
[White "Ian Bush"]
[Black "A Young Victim"]
[Result "1-0"]
...
20
votes
6
answers
7k
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What is a "monster knight"?
I was watching an agadmator video explaining a game between two chess engines, and at one point in the video after a knight move, agadmator talks about how that knight then became "basically a monster ...
19
votes
12
answers
8k
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Why does a knight combine better with the queen than a bishop does?
From this question, the couple queen + knight is strong in attacking the opponent's king.
I searched why the knight combines better than the bishop with a queen, and all I could find, from this ...
9
votes
4
answers
3k
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Chess.com insufficient material draw
I played a game at chess.com and the endgame was KNN vs KP. When the pawn was captured, the server automatically give a draw due to "insufficient material". I am confused about chess.com's ...
13
votes
7
answers
3k
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Arrange 5 non-attacking knights on a 5x5 toroidal board
The celebrated British mathematician and lover of public transport, Simon Norton, was one of those who passed in 2019. He was the subject of a wonderful biography and one of my favourite human beings: ...
2
votes
1
answer
166
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Games with two knight promotions in them
Games with two knight promotions are extremely rare, but a few have existed. In an article of his, Tim Krabbe stated that, about the game Zurakhov - Koblentz, "This is one in only 5 games with two ...
3
votes
1
answer
238
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Knight promotion percentages
Knight promotion is the second most common promotion. Most of the time it is to give an otherwise undeliverable check. But it doesn’t always come with check. Statistically speaking, what percentage of ...
3
votes
2
answers
240
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List of numerous possible reasons to promote to a knight
While this asks for a reason/any reason in general, I wish to make a list of numerous posssible unique reasons.
I already have an exhaustive list of my own. Are there any more possible reasons out ...
2
votes
1
answer
293
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Is there any game where AlphaZero wins against Stockfish thanks to a knight pair?
I have seen some of the games that were published in the match between AlphaZero and Stockfish.
In many games, as when it beats Stockfish as black playing the Berlin Defense, AlphaZero appears to ...
1
vote
2
answers
383
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A question regarding "The Horse Concoction"
Long ago in 2000, Tim Krabbe presented, a now classic, problem by Harry Goldsteen in his article “The Horse Concoction” on his site. It has blossomed across the Internet, as some of us know.
The task'...
13
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3
answers
4k
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A case where Bishop for knight isn't a good trade
I have played recently a game. In the position below Stockfish is saying that Nxe6 is a mistake and Rad1 is suggested but I'm having a hard time figuring out why. Can someone provide some insights ? ...
2
votes
2
answers
447
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How many different knight's tours are there?
How many solutions does the Knight’s Tour puzzle have when the knight first moves from square a1, through all squares (on each square once), and return back to a1? Please give some solutions. Also, ...
8
votes
2
answers
321
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Is this the only opening that allows one side to end up with three knights?
In Queen's Gambit Declined, Albin counter-gambit, Lasker trap, black ended up with three knights, which should be rare. Here white should not capture the additional knight in the next move (8. Rxg1 ...
-4
votes
1
answer
193
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What is the total number of KNN vs K checkmate positions?
What is the total number of KNN vs. K checkmate positions? Assume that White is checkmating.
Firstly the Black king must be mated on a corner. It is impossible to do it on the edge. The calculations ...
5
votes
1
answer
666
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What are the shortest possible games with a) 20 Bishops, b) 20 Knights, and c) 20 Rooks?
The fastest move sequence to reach 18 queens is known. Similarly, what are the shortest possible games with a) 20 Bishops, b) 20 Knights, and c) 20 Rooks?
2
votes
2
answers
226
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Setting up the knights [closed]
When playing chess on a physical board, which way should the knights face? Sideways (as in chess diagrams) or straight ahead? If there is nothing in the rules about this, how do the professionals ...
13
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1
answer
4k
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What is the least number of knights needed to cover the entire board?
I’ve seen the solutions to the lowest amount of queens, bishops, and rooks are needed to cover an entire board, as in they can attack all squares and are the only type of piece on the board. What is ...
8
votes
6
answers
2k
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At what playing strength level should one be able to mate with King Bishop and Knight vs King?
As in title above, at what playing strength level should one be able to mate with King, Bishop and Knight vs King without much effort (with reasonable time left for the game)?
0
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3
answers
411
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Is it better to move a pawn or knight first? [closed]
As stated in the title, I have always wondered whether it is better to move a pawn or knight first. Which one makes you generally more likely to win?
3
votes
4
answers
305
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What should a chess beginner do with his/her knights after 2. Nf3 or 2. Nc3?
Let us suppose I am a chess beginner. I often lose my games. Well, it depends on the opponent but generally I can hardly win. My problem is I do not know what I should do with my knights.
Usually ...
7
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3
answers
6k
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Can a King and Queen mate a King and Knight or is this a drawn game?
White has a King and a Queen.
Black has a King and a Knight.
It is White's move. Can White win or is this ending a draw?
27
votes
3
answers
6k
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How to describe two knights defending each other?
How to describe two knights defending each other?
Linked knights?
Doubled knights?
In Chinese Chess, two 马 (horse/knight)s protecting one another is quite common, and there is a standard ...
2
votes
5
answers
571
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Why is it necessary for black to defend e5 pawn after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3?
Why is it necessary for black to defend the e5 pawn after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3? What do you think of 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 a6 3. Nxe5 d6? Now white should move his knight to c4, d3 or f3 and black can develop ...
27
votes
1
answer
8k
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Can a knight move through all squares from its original position?
I'm so confused about this. I googled it and read about knight's tours, however they all start from illegitimate positions. I want to know if a knight can move through all squares from its original ...
7
votes
2
answers
737
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Checkmating the bare king with 3 knights – can the mate be forced on any edge square?
In the case where White has King and 3 Knights, and Black has just the bare King, it is known that White can force checkmate. But can White in fact pick any edge square in advance, and force the ...
3
votes
3
answers
270
views
What should be White’s move here in which each side has just a king and a knight?
[FEN "8/8/8/2k2N2/2n1K3/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
Is this position a draw?
4
votes
2
answers
493
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Longest forced win with just a Knight or Bishop
A single knight or bishop usually isn't enough to force checkmate. However, I know there are certain positions where the defending side has his king in front of a rook pawn where a win can be forced.
...
14
votes
3
answers
4k
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How to decide when is a3/h3 needed?
a3/h3 are frequently used to prevent the bishops from pinning the knights.
I always have a hard time deciding whether to play them or not. Playing them loses moves and tempo while not playing can ...
4
votes
3
answers
328
views
Knights necessary to mate king on large finite board
How many knights would be necessary to mate opponent's king on large finite boards, like a billion times a billion squares?
Are they fast enough to surround the opponent's king in a constant number of ...
2
votes
1
answer
370
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Why is exposing my queen for capture better in this position (According to computer analysis)?
In one my of my game, the following position appeared (me white):
Computer analysis says that I should have played Nf3 (exposing my queen being captured by the bishop). In the proposed scenario by ...
2
votes
1
answer
386
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The Black knight challenge
[FEN "8/8/8/8/8/pNnbPPpN/RBppPbrP/pkKPrqQR b - - 0 1"]
I was introduced to a challenge a few weeks ago with the above position. The challenge is to move the Black Knight such that it must ...