Questions tagged [knights]
Questions relating to the Knight
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Regarding The Horse Concoction-A Retrograde Analysis Question
Long ago in 2000, Tim Krabbe presented Harry Goldsteen’s “The Horse Concoction,” presented here on the Internet, which some of us know about.
Take an empty board. Put white pawns on b3, b6, h4 and ...
12
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3answers
4k views
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 ? ...
3
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2answers
101 views
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, ...
5
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2answers
128 views
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
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1answer
89 views
What’s the total number of KNN vs K checkmate positions?
EDIT: What’s with all the downvotes people? I accept criticism, but I feel that someone needs to at least a say a little bit of why.
What’s the total number of KNN vs. K checkmate positions?
I ...
4
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1answer
327 views
What are the shortest possible games with a) 20 Bishops, b) 20 Knights, and c) 20 Rooks?
The 18 queeens chess problem has already been brought up one CSE: Shortest possible game with 18 queens?
That is a game where all 16 pawns are promoted to Queens. But nobody who asked this yet: What ...
2
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2answers
87 views
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 ...
12
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1answer
3k views
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 ...
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5answers
424 views
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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3answers
157 views
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?
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4answers
199 views
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 ...
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3answers
2k views
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?
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3answers
5k views
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
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5answers
360 views
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 ...
23
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1answer
7k views
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 ...
6
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2answers
406 views
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 ...
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3answers
171 views
What should white move in the attached position? (It's only one knight on both sides with king)
Is the position in the image above a draw?
2
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1answer
163 views
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.
...
11
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3answers
727 views
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
197 views
Is a forced draw by 50 moves possible with Bishop and Knight endgame?
Excepting the variations where there is a capture or fork possible for the defending side. Is a position possible where this kind of endgame will last more than 50 moves?
Is somewhere a calculation in ...
1
vote
1answer
178 views
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 ...
0
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2answers
142 views
Can this knight move level the game?
As clearly black cannot trap the white queen for longer. So, won't Nxd4 be the best move in this scenario? Letting the queen escape and take a piece for his lost rook. Nxd4 will be followed by either ...
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2answers
195 views
What are some techniques for BvN endgames?
Let's say all the pawns are on one side of the board, either left, middle or right. (If there were two pawn groups far from each other, I imagine the Bishop would be much better than the Knight.)
So ...
5
votes
2answers
279 views
Is checkmate possible in knight vs knight pawnless endgame?
I see plenty of information stating that a Knight and King vs a King is a Draw because a mating position is not possible. I also see that it IS possible, no matter how unlikely, to acquire a mating ...
4
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1answer
134 views
Q+N in attacking K
I've always been told that Q and N are very strong in attacking K. Could someone show me some real GM games where Q+N attack decides the game? (where at the end of the aggression, the attacking side ...
2
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2answers
141 views
Why did Shirov not trade bishop for knight in this position to play against doubled, isolated b-pawns?
In The wisest things ever said about chess by GM Soltis, he quotes this about tempi and gives the following example:
Tempi should not be counted but weighed.
[FEN "r2q1rk1/pp1b1nb1/n2p1pp1/3Pp2p/...
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2answers
816 views
Can you checkmate with rook vs knight? [duplicate]
Is it possible to checkmate if all you have is a rook and your opponent only has a knight? If both of you play without mistakes or blunders?
1
vote
1answer
143 views
Is exchanging a knight for a bishop and open the game a good strategy for beginners? [duplicate]
I just learned that bishops are better in an opened game, but in a "normal" game is it good to follow this strategy?
2
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2answers
2k views
How to play better with Knight?
I'm solving tactics on http://chesstempo.com .
One of the things that I struggle with, is tactics involving moving the Knight several times. I find it very odd to calculate Knight movement beyond the ...
3
votes
1answer
140 views
Can a knight jump into a square in both an odd and even number of moves?
For example, a knight can go from b1 to d5 in 2 moves and in many other routes by an even number of moves. However, can it go to d5 in an odd number of moves?
I was wondering this because it would ...
6
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2answers
858 views
Mate with 3 Knights
how do I checkmate with 3 Knights? I know 2 is a draw, but 3 is not.
Thanks in advance!
~CSS
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3answers
926 views
When and why should I trade minor pieces?
After looking at bishop placement and bishops compared to knights i came to the following question:
When would it be beneficial to trade a knight for a bishop, or vice versa?
This includes the ...
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1answer
231 views
Why sacrifice the rook?
[Title "White to move"]
[FEN "1r3rk1/1p4bp/p2p1q2/2pPn1p1/B1PnRp2/PPN2P1P/2QB2P1/3R2K1 w - - 5 27"]
This is a diagram from the game between Del Rey, Diego and Efimenko, Zahar on the Zalakaros Chess ...
0
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1answer
226 views
Rook and knight used together within the same move - legal?
This is my first question on chess beta and I don't know if I'm insane or if the cpu is broken. So I was playing chess against a CPU on the iPhone with the app 3D Chess Game, and the CPU (playing ...
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3answers
1k views
Why can't knights lose tempo?
From Wikipedia: Kings, queens, bishops, and rooks can lose a tempo; a knight cannot (Müller & Pajeken 2008:40,175,189).
Is there truth to this? Examples please. My context is towards developing ...
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2answers
1k views
Can a King and a Knight force stalemate against a lone King?
I believe that a King and two Knights are able to force stalemate against a lone King (though obviously not checkmate)... but what about a King and one Knight against a lone King?
I first thought ...
4
votes
1answer
168 views
How to exploit the advantage of a bishop over a knight?
Occasionally in a tournament game I will find myself with a material imbalance of BvN or BBvBN in a situation where I know the extra bishop should be superior (center cleared of pawns, pawns on both ...
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8answers
1k views
Explaining knight move to kids
I am currently teaching a kid (~6 years) chess and we started with the pieces. While she had no trouble picking up the rules for the rook, the bishop, the queen and the king, the knight seems more ...
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3answers
460 views
Wording of Troitsky line rule
The current Wikipedia article on the two knights endgame states:
For the position with White to move, Troitsky established that if a black pawn is securely blockaded (by one of the white knights) ...
2
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4answers
598 views
Is the bishop pair and a pawn equivalent to knight and a rook?
In theory, rook (5) + knight (3) = 8 points.
And bishop (3.25) + bishop (3.25) + pawn (1) = 7.5 points.
For example, do you think black is better in the following scenario or do you believe white ...
3
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3answers
830 views
When Black opens with Nf6 after e4 - Beginner question
I would like to have some analysis in the following setting:
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5.
Now, what is best for white? The move 3. c4 continues the attack, but can create a "pawn weakness".
3
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1answer
478 views
Question about knight vs. 3 pawns endgame
In the following puzzle, 5. Kb6 is considered better than 5. Kc7. Doesn't Kc7 force Black to sacrifice his knight (sooner)?
[FEN "8/3n4/8/1P3k2/1P6/4K2P/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
1... Nb6 2. Kd4 Ke6 3. Kc5 ...
10
votes
3answers
516 views
Why should I try to put knights on weak squares when they can be taken easily?
Here you can see two weak squares-b6 & d6. That's what my chess book says, and in order to use these two weak squares, one must consider the moves Nf3-d2-c4.
Actually, the story is more ...
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1answer
551 views
Can K + N vs K force black into any corner?
Can white force this position
[Title "KN vs K"]
[FEN "8/8/8/8/8/8/5k1N/7K w - - 0 1"]
into this position?
[Title "KN vs K"]
[FEN "k7/8/1K1N4/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
Background:
...
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2answers
163 views
Could you explain me this part of GM Larry Kaufman's article on “The Evaluation of Material Imbalances”?
This is a stupid question that has more to do with English than with chess, so if other people also think it's stupid I can delete it after I get the answer.
Since English is not my mother's tongue I ...
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1answer
206 views
What squares are the most active for bishops?
For a beginner:
Where are bishops mostly exchanged or placed?
Where are knights mostly exchanged or placed?
3
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2answers
855 views
The Knight is stronger in Rapid/Blitz than it is in classical time controls. How many centipawns does the Knight gain in Rapid and in Blitz?
In blitz, the knight is stronger than the bishop. - Vlastmil Hort
I am using this point value system for classical time controls (at least one hour per player):
Pawn = 1
Knight = 3.25
Bishop = 3.25
...
3
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2answers
239 views
The Anderssen v Zukertort game in the Yamie Chess kids' math boardgame
Spanish Game: Johannes Zukertort vs Adolf Anderssen 1865 - Berlin
[fen ""]
[White "Zukertort"]
[Black "Anderssen"]
[Event "Berlin 1865"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7 4. c3 d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. O-O Ng6 ...
10
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2answers
7k views
endgame with single Bishop or single Knight?
If given the choice should I opt for an endgame with a single Bishop or a single Knight? I understand Bishops increase in value in the endgame but is the disadvantage of covering only half the squares ...
4
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2answers
3k views
Shortest path for a knight
Is there a practical way of computing the shortest path from a square to another, for a knight? (for a human chess player, not for a computer)
Usually, when I want to send my knight from a square to ...
