Rules · 6 min read

How Every Chess Piece Moves

The pawn: small but tricky

A pawn moves straight forward one square, and never backward. On its very first move only, it has the option of advancing two squares instead of one. But a pawn captures differently from how it moves: it takes an enemy piece by stepping one square diagonally forward, never straight ahead. This split personality, moving one way and capturing another, is what makes pawns feel awkward to new players. Pawns also have two special powers covered elsewhere: en passant, and promotion when they reach the far end.

The knight: the L-shaped jumper

The knight moves in an L: two squares in one straight direction and then one square at a right angle, or two across and one up, whichever way you picture it. Its unique gift is that it jumps: the knight leaps directly to its destination and does not care whether pieces stand in between. It is the only piece that can hop over others, which makes it deadly in crowded positions and a frequent source of forks.

The sliders: bishop, rook, and queen

The bishop moves any number of empty squares along a diagonal, so each bishop is stuck forever on one colour of square. The rook moves any number of empty squares in a straight line, along a row or a column. The queen combines both: she glides any distance along rows, columns, and diagonals, making her the most powerful piece on the board. All three are blocked by pieces in their path; they cannot jump, and they stop when they hit something, capturing an enemy or halting before a friend.

The king: one careful step

The king moves one square in any direction, straight or diagonal. It is the most limited mover, and for good reason: the king can never move onto a square attacked by an enemy piece, and can never be captured. Protecting it is the whole point of the game. The king also takes part in castling, the special move it shares with a rook.

Promotion: the pawn’s reward

When a pawn reaches the far side of the board, it does not stop there; it is promoted, immediately becoming a queen, rook, bishop, or knight of its own colour, your choice. Almost everyone chooses a queen, since she is strongest, and yes, you can have two queens or more. That single rule means even a humble pawn is a future powerhouse, which is why every pawn deserves respect.