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Outposts

An outpost is a strong square for a piece, usually a knight. An outpost square cannot be attacked by an enemy pawn.

Knight on an outpost

White knight is on e5. No Black pawn stands ready to capture it, and White pawn on d4 defends the knight.

FEN: 4k3/8/8/4N3/3P4/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . k . . . 8
7 . . . . . . . . 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . N . . . 5
4 . . . P . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . K . . . 1
  a b c d e f g h

Knight on a second outpost

White knight is on d6 and White pawn is on e5. The pawn defends the knight, and the knight attacks deep into Black territory.

FEN: k7/8/3N4/4P3/8/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 k . . . . . . . 8
7 . . . . . . . . 7
6 . . . N . . . . 6
5 . . . . P . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . K . . . 1
  a b c d e f g h

Knight moves to an outpost

White knight is on f3 in the opening. In the middlegame it can move to e5, a strong central square.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

Key points

  • A knight on an outpost is hard to drive away. No enemy pawn can capture it or chase it.
  • An outpost is stronger when a friendly pawn defends the piece on it.
  • Outposts often sit on central squares or in enemy territory. A knight there attacks many squares.
  • Create an outpost by advancing a pawn that defends the square. Then place the knight on that square.
  • Trade the enemy piece that defends an outpost square. The trade can make the square safe for your piece.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Rust Playground

Exercise

White knight is on e5, defended by a pawn on d4, with no Black pawn ready to capture it. What is e5?