This forum is about discussing the many Chess960 starting positions where the two knights stand close to each other in the starting position on one side of the board or the other. The definition of close means that they may be next to each other or just one file apart. I've noticed that in these situations, there are some fascinating little short term interplays between the knights of opposing forces. These interplays are either outright tactics or interplays that cause useful opening moves to be played without cost but with no immediate benefit to the opening development process (even temporarily impeding it).
Here is a classic example. It is SP072 where the knights are seperated by one square:
In other words, starting positions with knights seperated by one square, have to bear in mind the problem of the pawn fork on them, which can drastically alter the equilibrium of development between the players. This extreme example is designed to highlight this phenomenon. Notice that if black now tries to biff away the c5 knight from it's outpost, that knight quickly transposes to the opposite flank via the e4 square, perhaps to g3. In effect, that knight has rapidly galloped from one side of the board to the other at very little cost.
There are heaps more examples, and I'll see if I can't post them over coming weeks. Please feel free to add examples of your own.
Hi there
This forum is about discussing the many Chess960 starting positions where the two knights stand close to each other in the starting position on one side of the board or the other. The definition of close means that they may be next to each other or just one file apart. I've noticed that in these situations, there are some fascinating little short term interplays between the knights of opposing forces. These interplays are either outright tactics or interplays that cause useful opening moves to be played without cost but with no immediate benefit to the opening development process (even temporarily impeding it).
Here is a classic example. It is SP072 where the knights are seperated by one square:
In other words, starting positions with knights seperated by one square, have to bear in mind the problem of the pawn fork on them, which can drastically alter the equilibrium of development between the players. This extreme example is designed to highlight this phenomenon. Notice that if black now tries to biff away the c5 knight from it's outpost, that knight quickly transposes to the opposite flank via the e4 square, perhaps to g3. In effect, that knight has rapidly galloped from one side of the board to the other at very little cost.
There are heaps more examples, and I'll see if I can't post them over coming weeks. Please feel free to add examples of your own.
Cheers