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Knight outposts

A safe square deep in enemy land, where no pawn can chase your knight.

Intermediate · Strategy · 19 steps. On Chess Castles, Chess Guru reads each step aloud in English, Hindi or Marathi while the moves play on the board, and you can practise any position against the engine. With games of Gukesh D, Viswanathan Anand, Divya Deshmukh, Praggnanandhaa R, Humpy Koneru, Arjun Erigaisi.

Step 1

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The position

An outpost is a square in the opponent's half, protected by your pawn, where no enemy pawn can ever attack. A knight on an outpost is a monster: it cannot be chased away and controls many squares.

Step 2

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The position

P Iniyan vs Gukesh D, Norway Chess Open Masters, Stavanger 2021. Gukesh from Chennai became the youngest undisputed World Champion in 2024, at just 18. Gukesh D plays Black here. Look at the knight on a3: what can it do?

Step 3

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The position before the moves

Moves: 40...Nc4

Gukesh D puts the knight on c4: a pawn protects it and no enemy pawn can ever chase it away.

Step 4

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The position before the moves

Moves: 40...Nc4 41.Nc5 Nb2 42.Kd2 Kd5 43.Kc2 Nc4

The moves: 40...Nc4 41.Nc5 Nb2 42.Kd2 Kd5 43.Kc2 Nc4. Watch how the position develops: Gukesh D keeps the advantage. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

Step 5

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The position

Viswanathan Anand vs Eugenio Torre, Manila 1990. Viswanathan Anand became India's first grandmaster in 1988 and was World Champion five times. Viswanathan Anand plays White here. Look at the knight on c4: what can it do?

Step 6

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The position before the moves

Moves: 33.Ne5+

Viswanathan Anand puts the knight on e5: a pawn protects it and no enemy pawn can ever chase it away. It gives check.

From the game Viswanathan Anand – Eugenio Torre, Manila 1990.

Step 7

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The position before the moves

Moves: 33.Ne5+ Kf6 34.g4 Rc2+ 35.Kf3 Rd2 36.Nd7+

The moves: 33.Ne5+ Kf6 34.g4 Rc2+ 35.Kf3 Rd2 36.Nd7+. Watch how the position develops: Viswanathan Anand keeps the advantage. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Viswanathan Anand – Eugenio Torre, Manila 1990.

Step 8

♜︎♚︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♟︎♚︎♟︎♝︎
The position

Divya Deshmukh vs Mary Gomes, 48th IND Championship w 2022, Hatkanangale 2023. Divya Deshmukh from Nagpur won the FIDE Women's World Cup in 2025, at 19, and became a grandmaster. Divya Deshmukh plays White here. Look at the knight on e6: what can it do?

Step 9

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The position before the moves

Moves: 38.Ng5+

Divya Deshmukh puts the knight on g5: a pawn protects it and no enemy pawn can ever chase it away. It gives check.

From the game Divya Deshmukh – Mary Gomes, 48th IND Championship w 2022, Hatkanangale 2023.

Step 10

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The position before the moves

Moves: 38.Ng5+ Kg8 39.h4 Bc3 40.Rc6 Ba5 41.Re6

The moves: 38.Ng5+ Kg8 39.h4 Bc3 40.Rc6 Ba5 41.Re6. Watch how the position develops: Divya Deshmukh keeps the advantage. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Divya Deshmukh – Mary Gomes, 48th IND Championship w 2022, Hatkanangale 2023.

Step 11

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The position

Valery Skatchkov vs Praggnanandhaa R, Titled Arena May 8th 2021. Praggnanandhaa from Chennai became a grandmaster at 12 and reached the World Cup final in 2023. Praggnanandhaa R plays Black here. Look at the knight on d5: what can it do?

Step 12

♚︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♞︎♟︎♞︎♟︎♚︎♟︎♜︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 33...Nf4

Praggnanandhaa R puts the knight on f4: a pawn protects it and no enemy pawn can ever chase it away. It attacks the pawn on h3.

Step 13

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The position before the moves

Moves: 33...Nf4 34.h4 gxh4 35.Nf3 h5 36.gxh5+ Kxh5

The moves: 33...Nf4 34.h4 gxh4 35.Nf3 h5 36.gxh5+ Kxh5. Watch how the position develops: Praggnanandhaa R keeps the advantage. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

Step 14

♟︎♞︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♚︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♝︎♚︎
The position

A Muzychuk vs Humpy Koneru, Online Nations Cup Prelim 2020. Humpy Koneru is one of India's greatest players and twice Women's World Rapid Champion. Humpy Koneru plays Black here. Look at the knight on b2: what can it do?

Step 15

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The position before the moves

Moves: 40...Na4+

Humpy Koneru puts the knight on a4: a pawn protects it and no enemy pawn can ever chase it away. It attacks the pawn on c3. It gives check.

Step 16

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The position before the moves

Moves: 40...Na4+ 41.Kxc6 Nxc3 42.Bb4 d4 43.Kc5 Ne2

The moves: 40...Na4+ 41.Kxc6 Nxc3 42.Bb4 d4 43.Kc5 Ne2. Watch how the position develops: Humpy Koneru keeps the advantage. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

Step 17

♜︎♚︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♛︎♞︎♟︎♟︎♚︎
The position

Arjun Erigaisi vs Fedoseev Vl3, FIDE World Cup 2023, Baku. Arjun Erigaisi from Warangal became only the second Indian, after Anand, to cross a 2800 rating. Arjun Erigaisi plays White here. Look at the knight on f3: what can it do?

Step 18

♜︎♚︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♛︎♞︎♟︎♟︎♚︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 40.Ng5

Arjun Erigaisi puts the knight on g5: a pawn protects it and no enemy pawn can ever chase it away.

From the game Arjun Erigaisi – Fedoseev Vl3, FIDE World Cup 2023, Baku .

Step 19

♜︎♚︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♛︎♞︎♟︎♟︎♚︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 40.Ng5 Qc1+ 41.Kg2 Qc6+ 42.Re4 Qd5 43.Kg1

The moves: 40.Ng5 Qc1+ 41.Kg2 Qc6+ 42.Re4 Qd5 43.Kg1. Watch how the position develops: Arjun Erigaisi keeps the advantage. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Arjun Erigaisi – Fedoseev Vl3, FIDE World Cup 2023, Baku .

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