How to draw with a knight against a rook
Learn to hold a knight against a rook: keep the knight next to your king, bring it back with a check when you can, and bring the king to the knight when it is cut off.
The knight to the king
The black king attacks your knight on b1. Take it to your own king.
Play Nd2: the knight stands next to your king, which guards it. Nd2 Kc2
1… Kc2 Kc2: the king attacks the knight again.
Play Nf3: the knight stays next to your king, away from the black one. Nf3
Knight and king side by side, the black king kept away: a draw.
A check on the way back
Your knight on a6 is far from your king. Bring it back, and win time with a check.
Play Nb4+: a check, and the knight comes towards your king. Nb4+ Kb5
1… Kb5 Kb5: the king attacks the knight.
Play Kc3: your king guards the knight. Kc3 Rh3+
2… Rh3+ Rh3+: a check.
Play Nd3: block the check with the knight, next to your king. Nd3
The knight came back with a check and now stands next to your king: a draw.
The king to the knight
Your knight on e8 is cut off from your king. This time the king has to go to it.
Play Kf3: your king heads for the knight. Kf3 Rg6
1… Rg6 Rg6: the rook cuts your king off along the 6th rank.
Play Kf4: keep going. Kf4 Re6
2… Re6 Re6: the rook attacks the knight.
Play Ng7: the knight runs towards your king. Ng7 Re7
3… Re7 Re7: the rook goes after it again.
Play Nf5: the knight stands next to your king. Nf5
King and knight are together again, and it is a draw.
Key ideas
- Keep the knight next to your king: together they hold the draw.
- A knight on its own is the danger: the black king and rook hunt it down.
- When the knight is attacked, take it back to your king, with a check if that wins time.
- When the knight is cut off, walk your king to it.
Common mistakes
- Moving the king away while the knight is attacked.
- Sending the knight on a trip far from its king.