The knight

In chess, the knight is a unique and versatile piece, known for its distinctive L-shaped movement pattern. Positioned beside the rooks at the start of the game, knights can leap over other pieces, making them particularly useful for navigating crowded boards. Each knight moves two squares in one direction and one square perpendicular, allowing it to jump diagonally in a roundabout way that other pieces cannot. This ability to hop over pieces makes the knight a strategic asset in both offensive and defensive play, often used to control the centre of the board and threaten key opponent pieces.