Knight pawn

A knight pawn is a pawn on the b-file or the g-file. These files are named after the knights that occupy b1 and g1 for White, and b8 and g8 for Black, on their starting squares.

Traditional terminology distinguishes the queen knight pawn on the b-file from the king knight pawn on the g-file. Modern texts more often say b-pawn and g-pawn. The name identifies the file, not control or ownership between the pieces.

The pawn still moves forward and captures diagonally like any other pawn. It does not jump or copy a knight's movement. The category parallels the king's pawn, bishop pawn, and rook pawn.

Knight pawns on the b-file and g-file

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

a1

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

The white pawns on b2 and g2 take their name from the files where the knights begin on b1 and g1.

The name comes from the starting file

The pawns on b2 and g2 share files with the knights on b1 and g1. For Black, the same relation appears on b7 with b8 and on g7 with g8. The pawns keep their normal movement and do not jump.

1. The white pawns on b2 and g2 take their name from the files where the knights begin on b1 and g1.
2. For Black, the pawns on b7 and g7 share files with the starting knights on b8 and g8.