Introduction
Chess is a game that has been around for centuries and has captured the hearts and minds of players all around the world. With its strategic gameplay and intricate rules, it is often seen as a game of the intellectual elite. One of the key pieces in this game is the knight, with its unique and unconventional movement. In this article, we will explore the basics of how a knight moves in chess and provide a deeper understanding of this fascinating piece.
The Basics of the Knight
Before we dive into the movement of the knight, let´s first understand the basic characteristics of this piece. The knight is one of the two types of pieces classified as “minor pieces”, the other being the bishop. It is also known as the horse or the steed in some countries, reflecting the origins of its characteristic movement. The knight is represented by a horse´s head and is usually the second strongest piece on the chessboard, after the queen.
The Knight´s Movement
As mentioned earlier, the knight has a unique and unconventional movement compared to other pieces on the chessboard. Unlike the linear movements of the rook and bishop, the knight moves in an L-shaped pattern. It moves two squares in one direction (either horizontally or vertically) and then one square perpendicular to that direction. This results in a total of eight possible squares that the knight can land on from its starting position.
Examples of Knight´s Movement
To better understand the knight´s movement, let´s look at some examples. In the diagram below, the knight is placed on the central square (E4).
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