The Four Knight's Defense - Tarot Spread

This is the Four Knight's Defense spread with the classic Gumppenberg Tarot of 1835.

The Four Knight's Defense - Layout

1 = Your first move

2 = The direct response to your first move

3 = Your first knight (power/weapon/action)

4 = The direct response to your first knight

5 = Your second knight (back up/security/reserve powers)

6 = The direct response to your second knight


The 'Four Knight's Defense' is created after a common chess opening - not only because I'm so fond of chess, but for the simple fact that chess is a fine abstraction of common human relationship.

When meeting any person in any situation the 'opening' is important: What is my first move? How will the other one react or take it? What is my second move? How will the 'board' i.e. the situation look for me?
Like in life, a good chess opening can decide over the whole game, on the other hand a messed up opening is hardly to 'repair' later on.

The 'Four Knight's Defense' is a very useful spread when you want to shed some light on your relation to a person or a meeting with a person or situation. It is also helpful when you want to know more about your position or your chances regarding a person or situation.

Card 1 is your first move, your first step towards the other person (or towards the situation).
Card 2 is the first move of the other one, the response from the other person to your first move, or the effect that your move has to the situation.

Up to now, the situation is simple, there is no direct confrontation, no-one threatens or controls the other, no-one 'rules the game'. It is more like 'here am I, there are you' - the first look and hello, so to say.


Card 3 is your first 'knight' i.e. a stronger power that you set up for your second move.

In chess, this move means that your knight threatens and controls the piece the opponent has first moved. Now in life we are a bit more peaceful, and a winning in human relationship doesn't necessarily mean that we have successfully kicked the other(s) off the board.
So you can see your 'knight' in here more as your appropriate reaction, your move to strengthen and undermine your position.
But of course - when you do the spread for a hostile or negative relation/situation, you can very well see it more 'chesslike'.


Card 4 is the other one's first 'knight' that comes out in direct response to your first knight.

In chess, the opponent's knight comes out in order to protect the piece your knight could attack. In our peaceful world of human relations, we see this knight as the other one's intention to strengthen and undermine his/her position. In further process, card 4 will represent the direct answer you will have to face when doing further steps with your 'knight' in card 3.


Card 5 is your second 'knight', your back-up and your reserve potential. It also can stand for the feelings you keep back or hide from being exposed too early.

Card 6, logically, is the other one's second 'knight' and reserve potential, and might also represent the feelings that the other one keeps behind.

As you can see in the model at the top of this page, the 'Four Knight's Defense' is very complex and all cards stand in manifold relations to each other. The lower half (cards 1,3 and 5) represent your side, the upper half (cards 2,4 and 6) represent the other one or the situation you have to face. All three cards of each side will support each other, back up each other, and appear as a combined unit.
Nevertheless, while reading you shouldn't forget that your cards 'provoke' the other side's cards.



When using the '2-birds-system', the position of the six cards are like in the model aside.
None of the birds must be on any of the marked positions, so it may take a while until you have your mix done.

Of course, when you choose the sort-out system, you just shuffle until there are six cards left - no matter on what position..



Now you can display your cards here.

As you see, the cards in the Shuffle Window have their numbers on their backs, so it is easy to choose the right ones from the dropdown lists. Just take care you have them in the right order.

Please note that the 'Four Knight's Defense' has a specific order to open and lay the cards, and the card's positions are important.
So take care that you don't mix them up, and have a look at the model at the top of the page when you're not sure anymore.


Response to
your first knight

Response to your 1. move



Response to
your second knight

Your second knight



Your first move
Your first knight

to top Raven's Tarot Site Tarot site main page

© 1997-2010 by Raven's Tarot Site - www.corax.com

Menu one page back The Shuffle Window