The Knight
I am the one piece you can easily identify
It doesn’t matter if you are a chess player or not
For every one recognizes me without fail
By the mere look of my face
Here I am before you all
I am the knight of chess
The only one to look like one
My face is that of a horse
I behave & move like one
For I am full of springy moves
I have a special way of moving
For I move like the letter L
I move two squares straight
Then take a turn sideways
Or rather I hop one square
I can move at will as I like
I can move upside down
Or sideways, to the left or right
You will do well to remember
If you think of me as one straight
Then one diagonal move
Whichever way you think
You will end up with the same.
I am worth three times a pawn
Or rather valued at par with a bishop.
But my real worth lies in using me
To create positions which I excel
I am rather special & unique
For I am the only one in chess
That can jump over other pieces
Both friends and foes alike
I can jump over other pieces
No matter what their height
I can jump over his majesty
I can hope over her majesty
No one else can have that
Or no one else will dare
The King may be mightier
The queen may be powerful
The rook may be the destroyer.
The bishop may be the archer.
But No king & queen can move
Like me, or jump over anyone.
For I am arrogant of my power I yield
I am the only piece Destined to do this
I do it extremely well
When it is crowded
For I get along with people
And love when it’s rather full
You may be puzzled by me
If you are a beginner yet
For reasons you can fathom, I am
The most difficult Piece to master
Don’t put me on the edge of the board
For a knight on the rim is grim.
Place me on the centre of the board
Which are the busy crossroads of chess
Where I attack most squares
Sizzle in the power I command
The various squares I rule
I can attack in different directions
I have the potential for endless forks
Like an octopus I am, sitting pretty
Spreading my hands in eight directions
Ready to savor anything that
Cross my path or dare to tread
I need to be centralized
I perform the best when
I am given a secured outpost
Right out there in the middle
Of enemies heart, where I drive
The hostile pieces away.
I love the formations where the pawns are locked
For I know exactly where to go
I dislike pawn formations that
Are in a great deal of flux
For what was an ideal landing square
May suddenly be taken away
It will come to you as a shock
When you find with fear
That I can fork your pieces
Like they do in a skewer.
I can attack & fork your pieces
Without putting myself in jeopardy
I can attack eight different pieces
None of them in turn attacks me
Like you buy a family pack
So similar can I give you
A family fork, which ends your hopes
For I fork your King, queen
And the mighty rook to go with.
The fork which ends your hopes.
If your opponent has a protected passed pawn
Which is a criminal to be put under bars
I play the role of a terrific blockader
To excellence in the endgames
Where I not only block the pawn
But attack another square in turn.
Your king may be well protected & safe
Surrounded by your pieces, making merry
With no holes for enemies to attack
But still you can’t escape my wrath
For I need no holes to maneuver
From where I am, I can deliver the end punch
Where I kick the hell out of you with my hooves
When I deliver the dreaded smothered mate.
I dominate bishops in crowds
Filled with nasty pawns
Every time I move I switch
The colour of my square.
That is where I outperform
The bishop of one colour.
The perennial rivalry between me and bishops
Ceased to exist, for they can put an end
To my moves, by blocking me in open positions.
I am not a long range piece, unlike the bishop
For To be effective, I have to be close to action
Although I move slowly, I have an edge
Over the bishop for I cover both colored
Squares -Black and white ones alike.
A thing which a bishop can’t dream of
But I am sad for having toiled so hard
Life is unrewarding for a knight
For I am not appreciated for all the goodness
I can bring to a position at a time.
For masters chose to prefer bishops over me
Especially so when they have a pair.
But I am priceless in my own way
The uncanny ability to jump around pieces
And fork them simultaneously
Makes me a piece to watch out for |