The Knight that jumps high falls prey to a Pawn.
(Keima no takatobi Fu no ejiki)
Vocabulary: Keima=Knight, no=of, takatobi=high jump, Fu=Pawn, ejiki=prey
Beginners invariably seem to love this piece which leaps forward in two directions. When played prematurely, however, a Knight can be easy prey for a Pawn.
White in hand: nothing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 +---------------------------+ | * * * wG * wK * wN wL |a | * * * * * * wG wB * |b | * * * wP wS wP * wP wP |c | * * * * * * wP * * |d | * * * * wP * * * * |e | * * * * * bP bP * * |f | * * * * bP bS bN * bP |g | * * * * bG * * bR * |h | * * * * * * * * bL |i +---------------------------+ Black in hand: P2 Diagram 1N-4e may give you a good feeling, momentarily. But White will then play S-4b, aiming at a later P*4d. That will be one Knight of yours that falls prey to a Pawn.
If Black did not have a Pawn on 5g, you could play N-4e. After S-4b, you can drop a P on 5d, thereby you can exchange your N for White's S in the future. Material gain means a lot in the beginning phase.
Back on Diagram 1, you need to do something before playing N-4e. Which is...?
From Diagram 1: P-3e
P-3e is an important move to play here. By pushing a Pawn to be taken, you can drop a Pawn in hand on the 3rd file.
Moves thereafter: ... Px3e P*3c ...After P*3c, if White responds with Bx3c or Gx3c, you can play N-4e forking the two pieces of higher value. What if White plays Nx3c? Yes, P*3d. You've learnt a lesson.