Here’s a few things to remember about knights in order to utilize them in your game of chess.
Do not let your own bishops get trapped. As you begin advancing your pawns, if you do not get your bishops out first, they will often get trapped behind the line rendering them useless.
Bishops are strongest in the end game. Even though you may want to avoid letting them get trapped early in the game, bishops, unlike knights, are most effect late in the game when the board has cleared. This gives them far more options to move diagonally across the board.
Control the long diagonal towards your opponent’s castled position. This gives you considerable leverage in your attack on the king.
Avoid losing one of your bishops early in the game. This may seem like a given for any piece, but if you are without one bishop later in the game, you lose access to half the squares on the board.
A lone bishop can be great help to your pawns. If you do lose one of your bishops, you can use the remaining bishop to to support your pawn march and delay your opponent’s pawn advance.
Next time, I’ll discuss utilizing your rooks. Until then, practice your new knowledge of bishops against me. Sign up at GameKnot.com and challenge me (jsarber) to a game.
