The knight in chess: movement, strategic value and winning combinations

The knight moves in an « L » shape: two squares in a horizontal or vertical direction, then one square perpendicular to that, or the reverse. It’s the only piece on the chess board able to jump over other pieces, both friend and foe. Its conventional value is 3 points, the same as the bishop, but its most feared weapon remains the fork: a double attack that can target the king and queen at once.

Updated on 3 October 2026 · By Delphine D., Le Palais des Échecs editorial team

How does the knight move in chess? The L-shape rule explained

The knight moves along a path shaped like an « L »: two squares in a horizontal or vertical direction, then one square perpendicular to that, or the reverse, one square then two perpendicular. This movement allows it to reach up to eight different squares from the centre of the chess board.

The only piece that jumps over others

The knight is the only piece on the chess board able to jump over other pieces, whether they belong to its own side or the opponent’s. A piece placed between its starting square and its destination square never blocks its move, unlike the rook, bishop or queen. This is what makes it so useful early in the game, when the board is still crowded with pawns.

Another quirk: with every move, the knight must change the colour of the square it stands on. A knight on a light square always lands on a dark square, and vice versa.

Visually, it’s also the most recognisable piece in a chess set: its carved horse-head shape is a convention of the Staunton pattern, designed by Nathaniel Cooke and sold by Jaques of London in 1849. It remains the benchmark for our Staunton chess sets.

What is the knight’s value compared to the other pieces?

The knight is conventionally worth 3 points, the same value as the bishop. Together with the bishop, it forms the minor pieces, as opposed to the major pieces, the rook and the queen. Unlike the knight, the queen combines the movements of the rook and the bishop, which explains why she is the most powerful piece on the board.

The king has no exchange value: the game ends as soon as he is checkmated, without ever being captured.

Knight or bishop: it all depends on the type of position

These 3 points are an average: the knight’s real value varies according to the position. In closed positions, with pawn chains blocking the diagonals, the knight gains the advantage, as it leaps over obstacles. In open positions, with clear diagonals, the bishop becomes superior: it crosses the whole board in a single move, whereas the knight must proceed in stages.

These are also the two minor pieces carved with the greatest care in our chess sets in fine woods.

« A knight on the rim is dim »: why position matters

A knight does not control the same number of squares depending on where it stands. At the centre of the board, it covers up to 8 squares. On an edge file or rank, this number drops to 4. In a corner, it has only 2 left.

This loss of mobility explains the well-known saying among players: a knight relegated to the edge sees its controlled squares halved, and quartered in a corner, compared to a centralised knight. It becomes an easier target to neutralise and carries far less weight in both attack and defence.

What is an outpost for a knight?

An outpost is a central square, often in enemy territory, that can never again be attacked by an enemy pawn. A knight placed on a solid outpost, for example on d5 or e5, and supported by a friendly pawn, becomes a piece that is very difficult to dislodge: it controls key squares without fear of being driven away.

The knight fork: the most fearsome tactic

A fork is a simultaneous attack by the knight on two opposing pieces, which cannot both be saved in a single move. It owes its strength to the knight’s L-shaped path, often difficult to anticipate. To discover other combinations such as the pin or the skewer, see our article on chess tactics.

Example of a fork on the king and queen

A knight placed on f7 attacks both d8 and h8 at once. If the opponent’s king is on h8 and their queen on d8, the knight threatens both pieces in a single move: this is a royal fork, one of the most devastating in the game, since the king must step out of check and the queen is lost.

Example of a fork on the king and rook

The same principle applies with a rook: a knight on e7 attacks c8 and g8 simultaneously. If the black king has castled to g8 and a rook has remained on c8, both pieces fall to the same fork.

To see how a fork can lead all the way to checkmate, see our complete guide to checkmate.

Other classic combinations and traps involving the knight

Beyond the fork, the knight features in several recurring tactical patterns.

Common beginner mistakes with the knight

• Developing it too late: knights should come out early, often before the rooks and sometimes before the bishops, as they need several moves to reach a good square.
• Placing it on the edge: « a knight on the rim is dim » holds true from the opening onwards. Favour squares such as c3, f3, c6 or f6.
• Trading it without thinking: giving up your knight for an opposing bishop is not always equivalent. In closed positions, it’s often giving away your best asset.
• Forgetting that it jumps over pieces: many beginners look for a « free » square along the knight’s whole path, when only the starting and destination squares matter.
• Overlooking opposing forks: before every move, check whether a square reachable by an enemy knight threatens two of your pieces at once.

Improving with the knight takes regular practice, whether against an opponent or through tactical exercises. Our article on Elo ratings and how to improve at chess sets out concrete ways to structure this training.

Frequently asked questions

Can the knight jump over opposing pieces?

Yes. It is the only piece on the chess board able to jump over any piece, friend or foe, to reach its destination square along the L shape.

How many knights does each player start with?

Each player begins the game with two knights, placed between the rooks and bishops: on b1 and g1 for White, on b8 and g8 for Black.

Why is the knight represented by a horse’s head?

The knight is traditionally carved in the shape of a horse’s head, a convention carried on by the Staunton pattern, designed by Nathaniel Cooke and sold by Jaques of London in 1849.

What is the difference between a knight and a bishop?

Both are worth 3 points and belong to the minor pieces, but their movements are opposite: the knight jumps in an L shape over alternating square colours, while the bishop glides diagonally, always staying on the same square colour.

What is a knight fork?

It is a simultaneous attack by the knight on two unprotected opposing pieces, which cannot both be saved in a single move.

Can a lone king and knight force checkmate?

No. A lone king and knight are never enough to force checkmate against a lone king: this is a case of insufficient material, which results in a draw.

Choosing a beautiful knight for your chess board

The knight is the most delicate piece to carve in a chess set: its horse’s head demands precise relief, a crisp mane and perfect symmetry between the two copies in the set. It is often on this piece that the quality of a set is judged.

In the Leningrad Set, the boxwood and ebonised boxwood pieces are carved by hand, with a strikingly detailed knight, set upon a mahogany wood chess board.

View the Leningrad set

The Championship Set pairs a mahogany and maple wood chess board with a golden rosewood and boxwood chess set, its pieces hand-carved and hand-waxed, delivered in a birch wood storage box.

View the Championship set

To understand how this relief is achieved, our article on how carved wooden chess sets are made details the turning and carving stages.