Chess Flint?

[rcraigharman at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 19368

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., rja.carnegie at e... wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Susan Hall" <shall at s...> wrote:
> > >Ron:  "I take one step forward, and she'll take me - "
> > >
> > > and then: "He stepped forward and the white queen pounced."
> > 
> > If there was only one legal move that the knight could make at
> > that point, and the chess board obeyed the ordinary rule that
> > one a player has touched a piece they have to move it, even if
> > they suddenly realise that they have made a mistake, the queen
> > would be legally entitled to take Ron the instant he moved,
> > though it is better etiquette (and psychology) to wait till the
> > piece actually lands on the disputed square.
> 
> But how does Ron have only one legal move?  From any square, a
> knight has at least two moves.

I think this supposed flint is not as horrendous as our chess-playing
contingent makes it sound.  My impression from the reading is that
Ron is gawky for his age, and therefore is probably long-legged
enough to move to the next square in one step.  After all, Ron does
not say that he'll move "one *square* forward".  And "forward"
needn't mean "remaining in the same file".

I envision his move being along the lines of going two ranks
*forward* and one file over (like Na3-b5).  And with his long legs,
he would only say, "I take one step forward".

As for legal moves....yes, a knight has at least two legal moves,
*if* those squares are open to him (i.e. not occupied by pieces from
his side), *and* if moving the knight does not expose the king to
check....

....Craig