Answers.Body: <p>The concept of a knight which is so powerfully placed (generally on e6/e3) that the game wins itself dates, according to <a href="http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/knightoutpost.html" rel="noreferrer">Winter</a>, from: </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>An observation by Zukertort after 26 Ne6 in the simultaneous game
    Steinitz v Maas, London, 5 November 1873:</p>
    
    <p>‘<em>The appearance of the knight at K6 [e6 for white, e3 for black] is generally, for the opponent,</em>
    <em>the proper signal to strike his colours.</em>’
    Source: City of London Chess Magazine, May 1874, pages 97-98</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Here is the game extract:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[title "Steinitz v Maas, London, 5 November 1873"]
  [fen "3q1rk1/1rb3pp/b2p1p2/n2P1N2/1p1NP3/2p1B3/P4PPP/1Bn1Q1RK w - - 0 1"]
  
  1. Ne6 Qe8 2. Bxc1 Rf7 3. g4 Qa4 4. g5 c2 5. gxf6 cxb1=Q 6. Nh6+ Kh8 7. Nxf7+ Kg8 8. Rxg7++
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>More from Winter:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>When the game Steinitz v von Bardeleben, Hastings, 1895 was shown in a
    ‘Chess Movies’ article on page 336 of the November 1949 Chess Review,
    the following comment referred to 19 Ne6:</p>
    
    <p>‘A knight at K6 is like a bone in the throat, says Steinitz.’</p>
    
    <p>For the same attribution, see I.A. Horowitz’s books How to Win in the
    Chess Openings (New York, 1951), page 44, and How to Win at Chess (New
    York, 1968), page 50, but where did Steinitz make the comment?</p>
    
    <p>From page 212 of the first volume of Kasparov’s Predecessors series,
    before 16 Ne6 in Lasker v Capablanca, St Petersburg, 1914:</p>
    
    <p>‘... the knight at e6 will be like a bone in his throat!’</p>
  </blockquote>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-24T04:10:38.560Z
Answers.Text: I guess the knight on h1 should be a king?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Rebecca J. Stones
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-24T07:29:09.640Z
Answers.Text: @RebeccaJ.Stones Thanks! Suggested an edit.
Answers.UserDisplayName: trolley813
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-24T13:13:18.760Z
Answers.Text: It looks like I'm missing something. Why 8. Nh6 instead of 8. Rxg7?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Martin Argerami
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-24T13:20:30.607Z
Answers.Text: @MartinArgerami You're right! Thanks. Edited and thanks to previous editors who fixed my typos/errors
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-23T23:22:08.670Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-01-24T13:19:23.137Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-01-24T13:19:23.137Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Answers.Body: <p>Consider black's e4 knight in this following position. If black moves the knight, white will experience a discovered check from the light-squared bishop. Is that scary? It's frightening! For instance, a move like <code>1.Qh3</code> can be met with <code>Nf2+</code>, double attacking the king and the queen.</p>
  
  <pre><code>[title "Variation from lanturegge vs sicariusnoctis (Bullet)"]
  [fen "r6r/pp1n1kp1/2pp2b1/7p/2PPn2b/4P3/PPK1B1Q1/R1B5 w - - 1 18"]
  
  1. Qh3 Nf2+! 2. Kc3 Nxh3
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>How many squares is such a knight attacking? Well, there's the 8 squares that a centralized knight can move to in one jump:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/xrE32.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/xrE32m.png" alt="one knight jump"></a></p>
  
  <p>But because of the discovered check, the knight effectively attacks all squares that it can move to within two jumps:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7poox.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7pooxm.png" alt="two knight jumps"></a></p>
  
  <p>That's 35 squares. That's more than half the board. In fact, taking away the knight changes the computer evaluation by 13 points. (After moving the white king out of check.) That's more than a measly 9 point queen!</p>
  
  <p>If the white queen were to rest on <em>any</em> of these squares, then black could convert this tactical advantage into a material one and capture that queen!</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-24T16:20:55.337Z
Answers.Text: To be pedantic, the black knight doesn't can't reach c8 in this position, and attacking itself on e4 is a strange idea, so it technically only covers 33 squares.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Mateen Ulhaq
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-06-29T23:50:10.213Z
Answers.Text: To be even more pedantic, it's difficult to consider b1 as attacked as well, since both paths leads through squares attacked by the king, who's going to have an incentive to move anyway.
  
  
  Edit. To be even more pedantic, the bishop would be able to capture on b1 by utilising the skewer on the king so I retract my initial statement.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Bennett Gardiner
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-24T16:08:50.360Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-01-24T16:17:51.350Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-01-24T16:17:51.350Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Mateen Ulhaq
Answers.Body: <p>There is no standard nor official definition.  Normal folks would take it to be a VERY well placed and powerful knight.</p>
  
  <p>I have sacked a rook for a knight and gotten huge advantages, but that depends on the specific position.  Sometimes that knight can maneuver to where rooks and bishops have problems and can be the balance of power for a mating attack with the queen alone or with another piece.</p>
  
  <p>In the video’s position the you linked, the knight is on a strong square and supported by two pawns.  However it  can be easily taken, so it is not as strong as if it were there and could remain.  </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-23T20:00:01.357Z
Answers.Text: Agree.  Monster Knight would usually include no bishop of the correct color to ever take it.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Michael West
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-24T05:21:10.823Z
Answers.Text: To be explicit, being in an *outpost* is an essential part of a monster knight.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Cyriac Antony
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-23T19:44:33.650Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-01-23T20:54:12.503Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-01-23T20:54:12.503Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: edwina oliver
Answers.Body: <p>It is not technically a pure chess term, but is not an uncommon description for a very powerful knight. It is simply English, and your common sense thoughts were right on the money.</p>
  
  <p>It is just a description for a knight that is beautifully positioned, and that controls a lot of key territory on the board, and is often, but not always, unassailable. Sometimes, you can trade it off, but at a cost.</p>
  
  <p>Lastly, and this is important, it must control enough of the board to make life difficult for the other side. Sometimes, you can have an optically beautiful piece (not just a knight), but it attacks nothing important, so it is not really a strong piece. I have seen knights on d5 in certain positions that while optically great, they did not combine with any other pieces actually threaten black.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-23T21:29:08.557Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-01-23T22:18:48.950Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-01-23T22:18:48.950Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: PhishMaster
Answers.Body: <p>Check out this position, from <a href="https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067175" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Anatoly Karpov vs. Garry Kasparov (1985)</a> after 20...Rc8. Does that knight on d3 look like a monster to you? It's practically single-handedly paralyzing White's position.</p>
  
  <pre><code>[fen "2rqr1k1/5pp1/p2b1n1p/3P1b2/Np6/3n1BB1/PP1Q1PPP/1N1R1RK1 w - - 0 1"]
  </code></pre>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-24T05:17:25.227Z
Answers.Text: This is a nice example for a monster knight from a classic game. But, this doesn't answer the question.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Cyriac Antony
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-24T08:53:44.940Z
Answers.Text: @CyriacAntony hmm, I think if the OP agrees this is a monster knight then he/she would have an idea what "monster knight" means.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Allure
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-24T00:32:10.663Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-01-24T01:56:36.670Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-01-24T01:56:36.670Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Allure
Answers.Body: <p>I don't know if there is any standard definition for 'Monster knight' in chess world, But as someone who has seen tons of Agadmator chess videos I can say with confidence that what he means by a monster knight.</p>
  
  <p>It is:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>A knight usually on 6th rank (or 3rd) which cant be kicked away by pawns (i.e no pawns in the adjacent files, or if there are pawns they are advanced beyond 6th rank)</li>
  <li>Opponent don't have a bishop of the same color of the square where knight is sitting.</li>
  <li>Opponent don't have a knight which can be traded with this 'monster knight', or if he has a knight, its far away or busy doing some other things.</li>
  </ol>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-25T16:42:06.577Z
Answers.Text: *"which cant be kicked away by pawns (i.e no pawns in the adjacent files, or if there are pawns they are advanced beyond 6th rank)"* sounds far too complicated. Both the relevant pawns can attack the knight only if they haven't yet moved at all; and in that case the knight isn't really in danger of being eventually kicked away, it would rather be captured upon arrival.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jirka Hanika
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-27T09:05:40.427Z
Answers.Text: that is why i said "usually" 6th rank and the pawn position was mentioned wrt to 6th rank which has made it far too complicated for you. A knight on 5th rank having wouldn't have confused you.
Answers.UserDisplayName: srk_cb
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-27T09:13:11.567Z
Answers.Text: mentioning it like knight on 'n'th rank and and pawns on ranks > (n+1) etc would have made it REALLY complicated!!
Answers.UserDisplayName: srk_cb
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-27T10:19:27.470Z
Answers.Text: Can you point me to any Agadmator chess video with "monster knight" on 5th rank, or for that matter, outside of e6/e3?  I think that he'd rather be inclined to call such a piece "octopus" than a "monster knight", especially if all the 8 squares attacked by the centralized knight are truly influenced by the knight's presence.  Whereas "monster knight" rather refers specifically to the threat to opponent's castled king on g8/g1, I think.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jirka Hanika
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-27T15:28:00.517Z
Answers.Text: Agadmator's latest video of pragnnanandha vs topolov (just released 1 hour ago) calls white knight on d5 a monster knight (time around 4.40)
Answers.UserDisplayName: srk_cb
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-27T15:46:50.320Z
Answers.Text: Thank you!  Interesting.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jirka Hanika
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-24T05:27:00.883Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-01-24T05:38:45.750Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-01-24T05:38:45.750Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: srk_cb
Body: <p>I was watching <a href="https://youtu.be/3cS9tYp_6Lw?t=680" rel="noreferrer">an agadmator video</a> explaining a game between two chess engines, and at one point in the video after a knight move, agadmator talks about how that knight then became "basically a monster knight", and therefore must be taken. He then talks more about some other games involving "monster knights", but never really explains what he means by "monster knight".</p>
  
  <p>My common sense is telling me that a "monster knight" is simply a knight that is well positioned, but from the way that agadmator talked about the concept, it seemed to me like there is a more precise definition of what makes a "monster knight". I googled around for a definition and didn't find it anywhere, hence why I am asking it here.</p>
  
  <p>So, what's a "monster knight"?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2020-01-26T21:15:16.610Z
Comments.Text: The phrase "octopus knight" is sometimes used for something similar. A knight which is expensive to dislodge and controls 8 useful squares.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Adam Chalcraft
Tags: <positional-play><knights>
Title: What is a "monster knight"?
ThreadText: # What is a "monster knight"?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2020-01-23)
  
  I was watching [an agadmator video](https://youtu.be/3cS9tYp_6Lw?t=680) explaining a game between two chess engines, and at one point in the video after a knight move, agadmator talks about how that knight then became "basically a monster knight", and therefore must be taken. He then talks more about some other games involving "monster knights", but never really explains what he means by "monster knight".
  
  My common sense is telling me that a "monster knight" is simply a knight that is well positioned, but from the way that agadmator talked about the concept, it seemed to me like there is a more precise definition of what makes a "monster knight". I googled around for a definition and didn't find it anywhere, hence why I am asking it here.
  
  So, what's a "monster knight"?
  
  **Tags:** positional-play, knights
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: The phrase "octopus knight" is sometimes used for something similar. A knight which is expensive to dislodge and controls 8 useful squares.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 6 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2020-01-23. Score: 13
  
  The concept of a knight which is so powerfully placed (generally on e6/e3) that the game wins itself dates, according to Winter, from: 
  
  An observation by Zukertort after 26 Ne6 in the simultaneous game
    Steinitz v Maas, London, 5 November 1873:
  ‘The appearance of the knight at K6 [e6 for white, e3 for black] is generally, for the opponent,
  the proper signal to strike his colours.’
    Source: City of London Chess Magazine, May 1874, pages 97-98
  
  Here is the game extract:
  [title "Steinitz v Maas, London, 5 November 1873"]
  [fen "3q1rk1/1rb3pp/b2p1p2/n2P1N2/1p1NP3/2p1B3/P4PPP/1Bn1Q1RK w - - 0 1"]
  
  1. Ne6 Qe8 2. Bxc1 Rf7 3. g4 Qa4 4. g5 c2 5. gxf6 cxb1=Q 6. Nh6+ Kh8 7. Nxf7+ Kg8 8. Rxg7++
  
  More from Winter:
  
  When the game Steinitz v von Bardeleben, Hastings, 1895 was shown in a
    ‘Chess Movies’ article on page 336 of the November 1949 Chess Review,
    the following comment referred to 19 Ne6:
  ‘A knight at K6 is like a bone in the throat, says Steinitz.’
  For the same attribution, see I.A. Horowitz’s books How to Win in the
    Chess Openings (New York, 1951), page 44, and How to Win at Chess (New
    York, 1968), page 50, but where did Steinitz make the comment?
  From page 212 of the first volume of Kasparov’s Predecessors series,
    before 16 Ne6 in Lasker v Capablanca, St Petersburg, 1914:
  ‘... the knight at e6 will be like a bone in his throat!’
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: I guess the knight on h1 should be a king?  
  > **username_4**: @RebeccaJ.Stones Thanks! Suggested an edit.  
  > **username_5**: It looks like I'm missing something. Why 8. Nh6 instead of 8. Rxg7?  
  > **username_2**: @MartinArgerami You're right! Thanks. Edited and thanks to previous editors who fixed my typos/errors  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2020-01-24. Score: 6
  
  Consider black's e4 knight in this following position. If black moves the knight, white will experience a discovered check from the light-squared bishop. Is that scary? It's frightening! For instance, a move like 1.Qh3 can be met with Nf2+, double attacking the king and the queen.
  [title "Variation from lanturegge vs sicariusnoctis (Bullet)"]
  [fen "r6r/pp1n1kp1/2pp2b1/7p/2PPn2b/4P3/PPK1B1Q1/R1B5 w - - 1 18"]
  
  1. Qh3 Nf2+! 2. Kc3 Nxh3
  
  How many squares is such a knight attacking? Well, there's the 8 squares that a centralized knight can move to in one jump:
  
  But because of the discovered check, the knight effectively attacks all squares that it can move to within two jumps:
  
  That's 35 squares. That's more than half the board. In fact, taking away the knight changes the computer evaluation by 13 points. (After moving the white king out of check.) That's more than a measly 9 point queen!
  If the white queen were to rest on any of these squares, then black could convert this tactical advantage into a material one and capture that queen!
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_6**: To be pedantic, the black knight doesn't can't reach c8 in this position, and attacking itself on e4 is a strange idea, so it technically only covers 33 squares.  
  > **username_7**: To be even more pedantic, it's difficult to consider b1 as attacked as well, since both paths leads through squares attacked by the king, who's going to have an incentive to move anyway.   Edit. To be even more pedantic, the bishop would be able to capture on b1 by utilising the skewer on the king so I retract my initial statement.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2020-01-23. Score: 5
  
  There is no standard nor official definition. Normal folks would take it to be a VERY well placed and powerful knight.
  
  I have sacked a rook for a knight and gotten huge advantages, but that depends on the specific position. Sometimes that knight can maneuver to where rooks and bishops have problems and can be the balance of power for a mating attack with the queen alone or with another piece.
  
  In the video’s position the you linked, the knight is on a strong square and supported by two pawns. However it can be easily taken, so it is not as strong as if it were there and could remain.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_9**: Agree.  Monster Knight would usually include no bishop of the correct color to ever take it.  
  > **username_10**: To be explicit, being in an *outpost* is an essential part of a monster knight.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_11 on 2020-01-23. Score: 5
  
  It is not technically a pure chess term, but is not an uncommon description for a very powerful knight. It is simply English, and your common sense thoughts were right on the money.
  
  It is just a description for a knight that is beautifully positioned, and that controls a lot of key territory on the board, and is often, but not always, unassailable. Sometimes, you can trade it off, but at a cost.
  
  Lastly, and this is important, it must control enough of the board to make life difficult for the other side. Sometimes, you can have an optically beautiful piece (not just a knight), but it attacks nothing important, so it is not really a strong piece. I have seen knights on d5 in certain positions that while optically great, they did not combine with any other pieces actually threaten black.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_12 on 2020-01-24. Score: 2
  
  Check out this position, from Anatoly Karpov vs. Garry Kasparov (1985) after 20...Rc8. Does that knight on d3 look like a monster to you? It's practically single-handedly paralyzing White's position.
  [fen "2rqr1k1/5pp1/p2b1n1p/3P1b2/Np6/3n1BB1/PP1Q1PPP/1N1R1RK1 w - - 0 1"]
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_10**: This is a nice example for a monster knight from a classic game. But, this doesn't answer the question.  
  > **username_12**: @CyriacAntony hmm, I think if the OP agrees this is a monster knight then he/she would have an idea what "monster knight" means.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_13 on 2020-01-24. Score: 2
  
  I don't know if there is any standard definition for 'Monster knight' in chess world, But as someone who has seen tons of Agadmator chess videos I can say with confidence that what he means by a monster knight.
  
  It is:
  
  1. A knight usually on 6th rank (or 3rd) which cant be kicked away by pawns (i.e no pawns in the adjacent files, or if there are pawns they are advanced beyond 6th rank)
  2. Opponent don't have a bishop of the same color of the square where knight is sitting.
  3. Opponent don't have a knight which can be traded with this 'monster knight', or if he has a knight, its far away or busy doing some other things.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_14**: *"which cant be kicked away by pawns (i.e no pawns in the adjacent files, or if there are pawns they are advanced beyond 6th rank)"* sounds far too complicated. Both the relevant pawns can attack the knight only if they haven't yet moved at all; and in that case the knight isn't really in danger of being eventually kicked away, it would rather be captured upon arrival.  
  > **username_13**: that is why i said "usually" 6th rank and the pawn position was mentioned wrt to 6th rank which has made it far too complicated for you. A knight on 5th rank having wouldn't have confused you.  
  > **username_13**: mentioning it like knight on 'n'th rank and and pawns on ranks > (n+1) etc would have made it REALLY complicated!!  
  > **username_14**: Can you point me to any Agadmator chess video with "monster knight" on 5th rank, or for that matter, outside of e6/e3?  I think that he'd rather be inclined to call such a piece "octopus" than a "monster knight", especially if all the 8 squares attacked by the centralized knight are truly influenced by the knight's presence.  Whereas "monster knight" rather refers specifically to the threat to opponent's castled king on g8/g1, I think.  
  > **username_13**: Agadmator's latest video of pragnnanandha vs topolov (just released 1 hour ago) calls white knight on d5 a monster knight (time around 4.40)  
  > **username_14**: Thank you!  Interesting.  
  
  ---
  
  