A Knight Rescue

When Istarted playing Chess again after 44 years of non-serious, and unessential play, it was once again a revelation, and a joy, to rediscover the intrinsic power of the Knight in play.

As a young player, I concentrated on using my Queen as the main weapon of attack, and as soon as she was captured -- but always exchanged -- I would then rely upon the power of my Bishops to do the rest of my work. I guess I loved the diagonal attack!

As I have aged into my game, I now realize the power of the Knight. New players sometimes forget Knights can move backward as well as forward. Knights can create a wheel of action. If you aren't paying rapt attention, you can forget to see all the Knight possibilities.

There is no greater feeling of tactical contentment than placing your Knight in a new position that Forks two important pieces. Even the best players can overlook a Fork you plan to set three moves ahead.

The leaping quality of the Knight makes it a challenge to effectively foresee a threat. Sure, a Knight can leap a Pawn, and every other piece on the board, but you must always remember to make room for the right landing spot. A good opponent will wonder why you're moving that particular piece and will then adjust their play to prevent your Knight taking that important square.

Anti-Knight play is its own Art.

I admit I have to be creatively active to move my Knight in my middlegame.

The Knight is glorified in reminding quotes more than any other active playing piece. "A Knight on the rim is dim." Or, as Garry Kasparov said about a sacrificing a White Knight for a Black Pawn on f7 -- "it is worth the price" -- meaning if your Knight can infiltrate that far into the opponent's side of the board, you can disrupt their game more by capturing a placed Pawn with your Knight than your opponent can ever do back by taking your Knight in return.

Now I use my Knights as a Ferris Wheel diversion to keep me on my toes, and to confuse my opponents. I also have to make sure any leaping horse into my territory gets my rapt attention because I know a Knight in my kingdom is a warning sign there's danger afoot -- err, ahoof!

I only hope I won't have to give up a protected Pawn position to take away the impending Knight threat from the board.

The best attack is the one you never see spinning for the King.