Ask Coach Jessica: The Minors

The power of the knight...he's different from all the other pieces, right? He can jump, go in two directions, hop over anything in his way. Is a knight, together with a bishop, "better" than a rook? Well, it depends on the position. But in some situations, the knight is the piece you need to win! By, Mrs Jessica E Prescott (aka BoundingOwl).

Bishops, like rooks, need open lines to increase their scope (ability to move across the board). Knights are special!

They like:

1. Forking stuff!

2. Outposts (holes, squares opposing pawns can't guard).

3. Closed positions (where pawns are mostly frozen).

4. Blocking opposing Isolated and Passed Pawns.

Let's practice.

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Forking stuff - knights like to attack pieces that can't attack them back (everyone except other knights)! White to move, and win a queen in two! First, the knight will take advantage of a pin, then make a fork.

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Outposts - these are knights' favorite positional landing holes. They like to be guarded by their own pawns, and they are not able to be attacked by opposing pawns. So they can stay there for a while! How can Black hop into the hole on f4?
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Now White had better play Kh1 and Rg1 or else he'll get mated with Qg4-g2!
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Best is a knight on the 6th rank (because it can attack the back rank pieces!). Find Black's best move here.
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In a closed position, it is the knight which can jump over pawns, while bishops and rooks are trapped behind them. This position includes all the knight's favorite positional things: outposts, closed positions, and knights on the 6th. Can you find his path to the outpost square?

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Blockading - don't let the passed pawn get any farther!
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So you can see how sometimes you'd rather have minors, and other times a rook. Every piece has pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses. I hope you are able to determine what is best in each position! Remember, pieces really like working together as a team.

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