Introduction to Chess Pieces

Learning how to play chess can be daunting at first, but there is no better place to begin than with the chess pieces. In this article, we will explore the six different types of chess pieces, their starting positions, how they move, and their point value.

Let’s delve into the world of chess pieces!

What Are The Chess Pieces?

The chess pieces are the characters that players move around on a chessboard during a game of chess. There are six types of chess pieces, each with its unique attributes. Each player starts the game with 16 pieces, consisting of eight pawns, two knights, two bishops, two rooks, one queen, and one king.

The Pawn

The pawn is the least powerful chess piece on the board, but it plays a crucial role in the game. At the beginning of a game, each player starts with eight pawns. The white pawns are placed on the second rank, while the black pawns are placed on the seventh rank.

The pawn can only move forward, but it has the option to move two squares forward on its first move. After the pawn has moved once, it can only move one square at a time. The pawn captures an enemy piece by moving diagonally to the square occupied by the opponent’s piece.

The Bishop

Each player starts the game with two bishops, one placed on a light square and the other on a dark square. The bishops are positioned next to the king and the queen at the beginning of a game.

The bishop can move diagonally across the board, as long as no other piece is blocking its way. It can capture an enemy piece by moving to the occupied square where the opponent’s piece is located.

The Knight

Each player starts the game with two knights, which are unique chess pieces that can jump over other pieces on the board. The knight moves in an L-shaped pattern, either two squares horizontally and one square vertically or one square horizontally and two squares vertically.

The knight captures an enemy piece by landing on the square occupied by the opponent’s piece.

The Rook

Each player starts the game with two rooks, which are placed in the corners of the board next to the knights. The rook can move horizontally or vertically across the board as far as it likes, provided no other piece is blocking its path.

The rook captures an enemy piece by moving to the occupied square where the opponent’s piece is located.

The Queen

The queen is the most powerful chess piece on the board. Each player starts the game with one queen, positioned next to the king at the beginning of the game.

The queen can move any number of squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally across the board, making it the most versatile chess piece. It captures an enemy piece by moving to the square occupied by the opponent’s piece.

The King

The king is the most important chess piece on the board, and the object of the game is to checkmate the opponent’s king. Each player starts with one king, positioned next to the queen at the beginning of the game.

The king can only move one square in any direction, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The king cannot be captured, but when it is under attack, it is said to be in check.

Conclusion

Now that you know the basics of chess pieces, their starting positions, and how they move, you can put your knowledge into practice and enjoy playing a game of chess. Remember to strategize carefully, and always keep an eye on the opponent’s moves.