knightmare

English

Etymology

Blend of knight +‎ nightmare.

Pronunciation

• Homophone: nightmare

Noun

knightmare (plural knightmares)

1. (chess, humorous, informal) A figurative nightmare involving a knight, e.g. a crushing knight move or a hopeless situation involving a knight.
   • 2020 March 11, Isaak Linder, Vladimir Linder, Mikhail Botvinnik: Sixth World Chess Champion‎^[1], SCB Distributors, →ISBN, →OCLC:

     16...Nbxd5? The wrong knight captures, which leads to a knightmare for Black.

   • 2020 November 17, Thomas Engqvist, 300 Most Important Chess Positions‎^[2], Batsford, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 138:

     17...cxd5? 18 ♘b5 is obviously a “knightmare” for Black.