* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st6LggwoL_4

* https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/8204-three-esse...

* Under USD 75: https://archive.is/https://www.americastestkitchen.com/equip...

For most daily needs: chef's knife, pairing knife, serated/bread knife. Possibly useful 'extras': kitchen shears, petty/utility, boning, slicing/carving. They do not recommend sets.

I really enjoy markets like they describe and I've experienced them in Asia, but I have no idea where I'd find one in WA State.