The knight moves in an L-shape: two squares in a straight line (up, down, left or right), then one square to the side. It is the only chess piece that can jump over other pieces, so nothing can block it. A knight always lands on a square of the opposite colour to the one it started on.

The knight is the piece that looks like a horse. Many children find it the trickiest piece to learn, and many parents remember being confused by it too. The good news is that once the L-shape clicks, it stays with you for life. Let us learn it step by step.

The L-shape, step by step

Think of the knight's move as two small steps joined together:

  1. Move two squares in a straight line: forward, backward, left or right.
  2. Then turn and move one square to the side, at a right angle.
  3. The knight lands on the final square. The squares in between do not matter.

You can also do it the other way round: one square in a straight line, then two squares to the side. Both give the same L. From the middle of the board, a knight can reach up to eight different squares.

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A knight on d4 can jump to any of the eight squares the arrows point to. Notice how each one makes an L-shape.

The knight can jump over pieces

Every other piece is stopped if something stands in its path. The knight is different. It hops over pieces, both its own and the opponent's, like a horse jumping a fence. It only cares about the square where it lands.

This is why a knight can move at the very start of the game, even though it is surrounded by pawns. The knights begin on b1 and g1 for White, and on b8 and g8 for Black.

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At the start, the white knight on g1 can jump over the pawns to f3 or h3. The knight on b1 can go to a3 or c3.

How the knight captures

To capture means to take an opponent's piece off the board. The knight captures the same way it moves. If an enemy piece stands on a square the knight can land on, the knight jumps there, the enemy piece is removed, and the knight takes its place. A knight can never land on a square that has one of its own pieces.

Try it yourself

The best way to learn the knight is to move it many times. On the board below, move the white knight around. Try to visit all four corners of the board. How many jumps does it take to get from one corner to the next?

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Your turn: move the white knight on d4 and watch where it can land. Can you reach the corner square h8?

Your turn: move the pieces on the board.

Tap a piece, then tap where it should go, or drag it.

Knights love the centre

A knight in the middle of the board controls up to eight squares. A knight in a corner controls only two. That is a big difference. Chess players often say "a knight on the rim is dim", which means a knight on the edge of the board is weak.

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A knight in the corner on a1 can only reach two squares, b3 and c2. Compare this with the eight squares from d4.

So in your games, try to bring your knights towards the middle early on. Moves like Nf3 and Nc3 for White are good, natural moves. A knight is worth about 3 points, roughly the same as a bishop. You can read more in our guide to chess piece values.

The knight fork: its favourite trick

Because the knight jumps in such an unusual way, it is very good at attacking two pieces at the same time. This is called a fork. A knight fork that attacks the king and the queen together is one of the happiest moments for any young player, because the opponent must save the king and lose the queen. Learn more in what is a fork in chess.

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Puzzle: White to move. Find the knight jump that attacks the black king and the black queen at the same time.

White to move. Make your move on the board.

Tap a piece, then tap where it should go, or drag it.

Common beginner mistakes

  • Moving in a straight line of three. The knight never moves three squares straight. It must turn.
  • Moving diagonally. One square diagonally is not a knight move. Check the colour trick: the knight must land on the other colour.
  • Forgetting the opponent's knights. Because knights jump, they can attack from surprising angles. Before each move, ask: which squares can the enemy knights reach?
  • Leaving knights in the corner. Bring them towards the centre where they are strongest.

A fun practice idea: place a knight on any square and say out loud every square it can jump to. Do this for five minutes a day, and soon you will see knight moves without thinking. When you feel ready, test yourself with today's free puzzle. Next, learn how the bishop moves.

Questions parents and kids ask

Can the knight jump over pieces?

Yes. The knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces, both its own and the opponent's. Only the landing square matters.

Can a knight move two squares and then one square backward?

Yes. The knight can move in any direction: forward, backward, left or right. The L-shape can point any way, as long as it is two squares straight and then one to the side.

How many squares can a knight move to?

On an empty board, a knight in the centre can reach eight squares. On the edge it has fewer, and in a corner it has only two.

Can a knight give check?

Yes. If a knight could jump to the square where the enemy king stands, the king is in check. A knight check cannot be blocked, because the knight jumps. The king must move, or the knight must be captured.