Pieces
Home Chess Notation Pieces Special Moves Draws

 

 

Pieces

King

The king is the most valued piece in the game of chess for it is priceless. This is because the objective of the game is to capture your opponent's king. The king has the ability to move one space in any direction. It also has the ability to castle.

 

 

 

 

 

Queen

The queen may not be the most valued piece on the board but is the most powerful with a point value of 9. The queen can move any number of spaces in any direction.

 

 

 

 

 

Rook

The rook, also a powerful piece, has a point value of 5. The rook has the ability to move horizontally or vertically any number of squares in any direction. This piece also has the ability to castle.

 

 

 

 

 

Knight

The knight, having a point value of 3, is a minor yet vital piece in the game of chess. The knight, unlike any other piece on the chessboard, can 'jump over' pieces. The knight moves in an 'L' shape moving either two spaces horizontally and one space vertically, or two spaces vertically and one space horizontally.

 

 

 

 

 

Bishop

The bishop has a point value of 3, making it a minor yet vital piece in the game of chess. The bishop can move diagonally any number of squares in any direction.

 

 

 

 

 

Pawn

The pawn, having a point value of 1, is the least valued piece on the board however can be the difference between winning and losing a game of chess. Pawns can only move forward one space however; from its starting position a pawn can advance two spaces. Pawns don't capture pieces by advancing strait into them horizontally or vertically; instead they capture pieces by advancing diagonally into the piece. The pawn, despite its disadvantages has many advantages that other pieces don't have making it an important piece. The pawn's special ability is that it can be exchanged for a queen, rook, knight, or bishop when it reaches the last square on the other side of the board. It also has the ability to perform en passant.