An easy way to remember how a rook can move is that it moves like a '+' sign. It can move as many squares as it likes left or right horizontally, or as many squares as it likes up or down vertically (as long as it isn't blocked by other pieces). The rook is considered a major piece (like the queen) and is worth five points. The starting position with rooks highlighted. White's rooks start the game on a1 and h1, while Black's rooks are located on a8 and h8. All four rooks are located in the corners of the board. The RookĮach side starts with two rooks, one on the queenside and one on the kingside. The knight is the only piece in chess that can jump over another piece! It moves one square left or right horizontally and then two squares up or down vertically, OR it moves two squares left or right horizontally and then one square up or down vertically-in other words, the knight moves in an 'L-shape.' The knight can capture only what it lands on, not what it jumps over! The knight moves in an 'L' shape. The knight is considered a minor piece (like a bishop) and is worth three points. Starting position with knights highlighted. When a game starts, White's knights are located on b1 and g1, while Black's knights are located on b8 and g8. The KnightĮach side starts with two knights-a king's knight and a queen's knight. It can capture an enemy piece by moving to the occupied square where the piece is located. An easy way to remember how a bishop can move is that it moves like an 'X' shape. A bishop can move diagonally as many squares as it likes, as long as it is not blocked by its own pieces or an occupied square. The bishop is considered a minor piece (like a knight) and is worth three points. The starting position with bishops highlighted. When a game begins, White's bishops are located on c1 and f1, while Black's bishops are located on c8 and f8. The BishopĮach side starts with two bishops, one on a light square and one on a dark square. The pawn on e4 attacks the squares d5 and f5. In the following diagram, the pawn has just moved from the e2-square to the e4-square and attacks the squares d5 and f5.

It attacks (or captures) each square diagonally to the left or right. If a pawn has already moved, then it can move forward just one square at a time.

If it is a pawn's first move, it can move forward one or two squares. The pawn is the least powerful piece and is worth one point. The starting position with pawns highlighted. White's pawns are located on the second rank, while Black's pawns are located on the seventh rank. When a game begins, each side starts with eight pawns. Now, let's explore each chess piece in more detail. It captures diagonally one square forward.

Pawn - Moves one square forward, but on its first move, it can move two squares forward.

Knight - Moves in an ‘L-shape,’ two squares in a straight direction, and then one square perpendicular to that.

Bishop - Moves any number of squares diagonally.

Rook - Moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically.

Queen - Moves any number of squares diagonally, horizontally, or vertically.

King - Moves one square in any direction.

Let's meet them! How The Chess Pieces Move Each side starts with 16 pieces: eight pawns, two bishops, two knights, two rooks, one queen, and one king. There are six different types of chess pieces. The chess pieces are what you move on a chessboard when playing a game of chess. In this article, we learn about all of the pieces-specifically, where they are placed when a game begins, how they move, and how they are valued. When learning the game of chess, there is no place more important to begin than with the pieces.

The chess pieces names