The beauty of chess lies in the diverse ways these pieces rule the board. Now onto the captivating dance moves of our distinguished chess pieces. Let’s march on and explore the quirky world of chess pieces in all their glory! How Each Chess Piece Moves Quite a piece of trivia to unleash at your next chess tournament, right?Įach chess piece carries with it a rich, cultural history embedded in its name, a symbolic reflection of its unique role in the game. Now we know the regal King, the powerful Queen, the clever Bishop, the agile Knight, the solid Rook, and let’s not forget, the humble yet formidable Pawn.ĭid you know the term ‘rook’ has its roots in the Persian word ‘rukh,’ which intriguingly translates to a chariot? It moves forward one square but captures diagonally. In chess, the Pawn may seem humble but holds hidden potential. Its unique ability to leap over other pieces, coupled with its distinctive movement pattern, makes the Knight a tricky and unpredictable piece in the strategic game of chess. The Knight in chess is the board’s agile jumper. Their long-sighted movements make them excellent at controlling and threatening vast areas of the chessboard from afar. With two Bishops, one for each color of squares, they can control both dark and light squares. The Bishop in chess is a long-range operator, gliding diagonally across the chessboard. The Rook’s straight-line movement and ability to reach any square given an open path make it a powerful piece.Īlso, it participates in the special ‘castling’ move. The Rook in chess is a cornerstone of strength and strategy.

The Queen’s strength and range make her highly valuable, but it’s essential to utilize her wisely to prevent early capture and ensure control. We will see exactly how she moves through the board below. The Queen is the powerhouse of the chessboard, commanding the most flexibility. The King also participates in the special move ‘castling’, allowing for strategic defensive play. In chess, the King is the heart of the game.ĭespite moving only one square in any direction, its survival is paramount – a checkmate against it signals the end of the game. So, fasten your seatbelts it’s time to dive deep into the world of chess pieces! Names of Chess PiecesĪlright, let’s kick things off with the roll call of our star players on the chessboard. We’ll also uncover the rich history behind these pieces and discover the fascinating evolution they’ve undergone. In this article, we’ll take a tour through the 32 warriors of your chess army, understand their roles, and learn how best to deploy them on your battlefield. Each player can move any other of their Pawns two spaces one time on that Pawn’s first move.Greetings, future grandmasters! As a beginner, understanding your chess pieces – their names, their moves, and their values – is your first step towards mastering this age-old game.Įach piece, from the humble pawn to the mighty queen, has its own set of rules and strategic importance. The Pawn can only move forward a single space and can only capture diagonally. If the Pawn reaches the very back rank of the enemy field, it can transform into any piece except for the King. The Pawn is the one piece that can change its value throughout the game. What Is the Pawn’s Value?Įach player has eight Pawns, and each Pawn is worth one point. The Pawn is the most common piece you’ll see on the chessboard and becomes more valuable as the game continues. The Knight moves in an L or Y shape pattern in all directions. The Knight is unique because it moves by jumping over pieces instead of sliding around the chessboard. The Knight has the most interesting movement out of all the chess pieces. You’ll rarely see a Knight at the edges of the chessboard. Knights should stay near the center of the board to support and defend pieces as effectively as possible. The Knight, like the Bishop, has a three-point value.

What Is the Knight’s Value?Įach player will have two Knights. The Knight and the Bishop may not move the same, but both can create excellent positions for chess players. When creating chess sets, the Knight and Queen have the most detail and attention put into creating them. The Knight is one of the most well-known pieces. You’ll never have both of your Bishops on the same color tile. You will always have one Bishop on a white tile and the other on a black tile.

The Bishop has complete diagonal movement across the board. Bishops can make strong plays across the board and are most powerful when they’re at the center of the board. What Is the Bishop’s Value?Įach player has two Bishops, and each Bishop has a three-point value.

For transparency, the Bishop is above the Knight because one has to come before, but both pieces have advantages and disadvantages. Depending on whom you ask, the Bishop is more valuable than the Knight. The Bishop and Knight are in a strange position.

Names of chess pieces and moves