Chess is a beautiful game of strategy, built upon the unique movements and interactions of different types of pieces. Each chess piece has a distinctive role and a set of moves it can make. This blog post will provide you with a beginner’s guide to understanding the names, shapes, and movements of the pieces on a chessboard.

What are the Chess Pieces?

There are six different types of pieces in a chess game: the King, Queen, Bishop, Knight, Rook, and Pawn. Each player starts with 16 pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns.

How Does Each Chess Piece Move?

Each chess piece has its own movement rules. Let’s look at each piece individually, starting from their starting locations on the board.

The King Starter Location and Movement

The King starts on the e-file. In algebraic notation, white’s King starts on e1, and black’s King starts on e8. The King can move one square in any direction: horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. This means it has up to eight possible moves at any given point (conditions permitting). Remember, the King must never move into check (a position where it could be captured on the next move).

The Queen Starter Location and Movement

Next to the King, on the d-file, is the Queen. In algebraic notation, white’s Queen starts on d1 and black’s Queen starts on d8. The Queen is the most powerful piece and can move any number of squares along a rank, file, or diagonal. However, it cannot leap over other pieces.

The Bishop Starter Location and Movement

The Bishops start next to the Queen and King, occupying the c and f files. Each player starts with two Bishops. Bishops can move any number of squares diagonally, but they cannot jump over other pieces. Notably, each Bishop starts on a different color and will always remain on that color.

The Knight Starter Location and Movement

The Knights start on the b and g files, next to the Bishops. Knights have a distinctive move that can be remembered as an “L-shape” – two squares in one direction (horizontally or vertically) and then one square perpendicular to the first direction. The Knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces, adding a unique dynamic to its movement.

The Rook Starter Location and Movement

The Rooks start in the corners of the chessboard, on the a and h files. Rooks can move any number of squares along a rank or file but cannot jump over other pieces.

The Pawn Starter Location and Movement

Pawns fill the second rank from each player’s perspective. They move forward (towards the opponent’s side of the board), but they capture differently from how they move. Pawns move one square forward but capture one square diagonally forward. On their first move only, they have the option to move two squares forward.

Special Moves

There are a few special moves in chess that involve specific pieces, like ‘castling’ (involving the King and a Rook) and ‘en passant’ (a specific pawn capturing move). These moves add an additional layer of complexity to the game and will be covered in subsequent posts.

In Conclusion

Understanding the individual chess pieces and their movements is the foundation of chess strategy. By mastering these basics, you’ll be able to start seeing the potential complexities and depth this game has to offer. Remember, the beauty of chess lies in the interplay of the pieces and the endless combinations of moves. Happy playing!