What is Outpost in chess?
A square (often supported by a pawn) that an enemy pawn can never attack.
A knight planted on an outpost deep in enemy territory is a monster - it can't be kicked away by a pawn and dominates the position.
Spot outpost in your own games
Free. Chess2EZ finds the patterns you keep missing and explains each in plain English.
Analyze my games →More chess terms
- BatteryTwo pieces lined up on the same file, rank, or diagonal to multiply their force.
- OverloadingGiving one defender too many jobs so it can't cover them all.
- DeflectionForcing a defending piece away from the square or piece it protects.
- DecoyLuring an enemy piece (often the king) to a bad square.
- Smothered mateCheckmate by a knight when the king is boxed in by its own pieces.
- Perpetual checkAn endless series of checks that forces a draw by repetition.