The King
The king is regarded as the most crucial piece in the game of chess. Players must protect their king from the opponent while attempting to checkmate the opponent’s king. Notably, the king is the only piece that cannot be removed from the board; if a player’s king is captured, that player loses the game. The state of “checkmate” occurs when the king is trapped and cannot move to a safe square.
The king can move one square in any direction—forward, backward, sideways, or diagonally. However, it is prohibited from moving to a square that is under threat from any of the opponent’s pieces, including the opponent’s king.
The Queen
The queen, also known as the lady, is considered the second most important piece in chess and is the most powerful one on the board. The queen can move an unlimited number of squares in all directions, making it a versatile and formidable piece. It is typically positioned next to the king on the right. Although the queen can be captured, this does not signify the end of the game.
The Rook
The rook (or castle) is recognized as a strong piece in chess, although its movement is limited compared to the queen. Capturing a rook does not conclude the game. The rook can move an unlimited number of squares, but only in a straight line—forward, backward, left, or right.
The Bishop
The bishop is another powerful piece in chess, but its movement is also restricted. Similar to the rook, losing a bishop does not end the game. The bishop can move an unlimited number of squares but only diagonally, which means it stays on squares of the same color throughout the game.
The Knight
The knight is unique among chess pieces in that it moves in an unusual manner; it can move in an “L” shape in any direction, covering three squares on the board. Furthermore, the knight is the only piece capable of jumping over other pieces, providing tactical advantages in various situations.
The Pawn
The pawn, or soldier, is considered the weakest piece in chess and has highly restricted movement. A pawn can only move forward one square, or two squares on its initial move. Beyond its first move, it can only advance one square at a time.
However, a pawn has the ability to capture an opponent’s pieces that are positioned diagonally in front of it. Additionally, if a pawn reaches the opposite end of the board, it can be promoted to any piece except for a king, thus presenting potential strategic advantages.