Chess Pieces Names and Movement: A Beginner’s Guide

Chess is a fascinating and strategic game that has been enjoyed for centuries. Understanding how the pieces move is the first step to becoming a skilled player. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to brush up on the basics, this guide will walk you through the names of the chess pieces and how each one moves on the board.

1. The Chessboard Setup

Before diving into the pieces, it’s essential to understand the chessboard layout. The chessboard is made up of 64 squares, arranged in an 8x8 grid. Each square alternates between light and dark colors. The pieces are set up as follows:

• Back rank (closest to the player):

  • Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen, King, Bishop, Knight, Rook

• Front rank (the second row):

  • Pawn (all 8 pawns)

Remember, the Queen always starts on the square that matches her color (white queen on the white square, black queen on the black square).

2. The Pieces and Their Movements

a. Pawn

• Starting Position: The pawns are placed on the second row (for White) or the seventh row (for Black).

• Movement:

  • Forward: Pawns move forward one square at a time.

  • First Move: On their first move, pawns can move forward two squares.

  • Capture: Pawns capture diagonally one square forward (to the left or right).

  • Promotion: When a pawn reaches the opposite end of the board, it can be promoted to any other piece (except a king), typically a queen.

b. Rook

• Starting Position: Rooks are placed at the corners of the board (a1, h1 for White; a8, h8 for Black).

• Movement:

  • Rooks can move horizontally or vertically across any number of squares.

  • They cannot move diagonally.

  • Rooks are also involved in castling with the king.

c. Knight

• Starting Position: Knights are placed next to the rooks (b1, g1 for White; b8, g8 for Black).

• Movement:

  • Knights move in an "L" shape: two squares in one direction (horizontal or vertical), then one square perpendicular to that, or one square in one direction, then two squares perpendicular.

  • Knights are the only pieces that can jump over other pieces.

d. Bishop

• Starting Position: Bishops are placed next to the knights (c1, f1 for White; c8, f8 for Black).

• Movement:

  • Bishops move diagonally any number of squares.

  • A bishop is restricted to squares of one color (light or dark) for the entire game.

e. Queen

• Starting Position: The queen is placed on the d-file (d1 for White, d8 for Black).

• Movement:

  • The queen is the most powerful piece on the board.

  • It can move any number of squares in any direction: horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

f. King

• Starting Position: The king is placed on the e-file (e1 for White, e8 for Black).

• Movement:

  • The king can move one square in any direction: horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

  • The king is also involved in castling with the rook.

  • The game ends if a player’s king is checkmated (put in a position to be captured with no escape).

3. Special Moves

a. Castling

Castling is a special move involving the king and a rook. It is used to improve the king’s safety and develop the rook.

• Conditions:

  • The king and the rook involved must not have moved previously.

  • The squares between the king and the rook must be empty.

  • The king must not be in check, nor can the king pass through or end up in check.

• How to Castle:

  • The king moves two squares toward the rook.

  • The rook moves to the square next to the king on the opposite side.

b. En passant

This special pawn capture happens when a pawn moves two squares forward from its starting position and lands next to an opponent’s pawn. The opponent has the option to capture the pawn as if it had only moved one square forward, but this must happen immediately on the next move.

c. Promotion

When a pawn reaches the opposite side of the board, it must be promoted to a more powerful piece. The player can choose from a queen, rook, bishop, or knight. Promotion typically leads to choosing a queen, as it is the most powerful piece.

4. Conclusion

Now that you know the names of the chess pieces and their movements, you’re ready to start playing! Understanding the basics of how each piece moves is essential for learning the game, but mastering chess involves strategy, planning, and thinking ahead. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at anticipating your opponent’s moves and forming your own strategy. Happy playing!