In short: A square where your piece can't be chased away by the opponent's pawns, often protected by a pawn of your own. A knight is especially happy on an outpost.
Pawns can only move forward, and they capture diagonally forward. So a square your opponent's pawns have already gone past can never be attacked by them again. If your piece stands there, it can only be traded off, not chased away. A square like that is called an outpost, and it is at its best when a pawn of your own protects it.
Black's pieces can still trade off the knight on e5, but then Black has to give up a piece for it. As long as it stays, it puts pressure on Black's whole position. The pawns stand as in the Stonewall variation of the Dutch Defense, where the hole on e5 is the price of the wall.
How an outpost arises
An outpost arises when your opponent's pawns have gone past a square, or when the pawns that could have guarded it are gone. The square is then called a hole in your opponent's pawn structure. A common example is the square in front of an isolated pawn or a backward pawn.
Put the knight there
The knight likes outposts more than any other piece. It doesn't reach far and needs to stand close to the fight, and on an outpost it can stay for many moves.
Good to know
- Deep is best. An outpost in your opponent's half of the board does more good than one at home.
- Protection helps. A pawn of your own protecting the outpost means the piece there can't be taken for free.
- Think about your pawn moves. Every pawn move leaves squares behind that the pawn can never guard again. That goes for your own pawns too.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the knight suit an outpost so well?
The knight doesn't reach far and needs to stand close to the fight. On an outpost it can stay for a long time, and your opponent has to give up a piece to get rid of it.
What is a hole in the pawn structure?
A square that none of your own pawns can protect any longer. Your opponent's holes are your outposts.
Updated October 31, 2026