Chess Strategy: Bishop Dominance Over Knight

 

                                                                       

 

 

The statement you're referring to suggests that when a bishop is positioned two squares away from an opponent's knight (in this case, diagonally two squares), the bishop has significant control over the knight's potential forward movements. Let's break this down using the image you've provided.

Position Analysis:

• White Bishop on c3: This bishop is two squares away from the black knight on c5. This is a critical position because the bishop controls key squares that the knight would typically consider moving to.
• Black Knight on c5: The knight is in a central position but is limited in its movement because the bishop controls important squares.

Controlled Squares:

The bishop on c3 directly controls the squares a5 and e5. These squares are highlighted in the image (red-colored squares with arrows pointing to them).

Forward Movement Analysis:

The knight usually has potential forward moves to a4 and e4. However, because the bishop controls these squares, it dominates these potential moves. If the knight moves to either a4 or e4, it can be captured by the bishop. Thus, the bishop effectively restricts the knight's mobility in those directions.

Summary of the Statement:

"Any time you've got a bishop two squares away from the knight, you always dominate the forward moves." This means that when your bishop is positioned two squares away from your opponent's knight (like in this case), it controls important squares where the knight might want to move. The "forward moves" mentioned refer to the squares the knight would typically move to, which in this case are a4 and e4. The bishop's control over these squares puts the knight in a disadvantageous position, limiting its movement options.

Conclusion:

In this scenario, the white bishop on c3 dominates the black knight's potential forward movements to a4 and e4. The bishop's strategic position essentially locks the knight in place or forces it to retreat or move to less advantageous squares.

This concept is fundamental in chess as it illustrates how bishops can be powerful pieces, especially when controlling key squares, limiting the opponent's piece mobility, and forcing them into defensive or weaker positions.