Every chess journey begins with understanding how the pieces move. The chessboard has 64 squares, and each of the six piece types has its own unique way of moving and capturing. Once you learn these rules, you have everything you need to start playing. Let's walk through each piece, from the most powerful to the humble pawn.
The King
The king is the most important piece on the board — if your king is checkmated, the game is over. The king moves one square in any direction: horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. While he's slow, protecting him is the entire point of the game.
The king also participates in a special move called castling (more on that below).
The Queen
The queen is the most powerful piece. She combines the movement of the rook and bishop, meaning she can move any number of squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Because of her range, losing your queen early can be devastating. Use her power wisely and avoid bringing her out too early where she can be chased by minor pieces.
The Rook
The rook moves any number of squares along a rank (row) or file (column). It cannot move diagonally. Rooks are most powerful on open files — columns with no pawns blocking the way. Each player starts with two rooks, placed in the corners of the board.
The Bishop
The bishop moves any number of squares diagonally. Each player has two bishops: one that travels on light squares and one on dark squares. A single bishop can never reach all 64 squares, which is why the pair of bishops working together is so valuable.
The Knight
The knight is the trickiest piece for beginners. It moves in an L-shape: two squares in one direction and then one square perpendicular to that (or one square then two squares). The knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces, making it especially useful in crowded positions.
Tip: A knight on the rim is dim! Knights are most effective in the centre of the board where they control up to eight squares. On the edge, they control as few as two.
The Pawn
Pawns are the most numerous pieces — each side starts with eight. Pawns move one square forward, but on their very first move they have the option to advance two squares. Unlike other pieces, pawns capture diagonally, one square forward to the left or right. Pawns can never move backwards.
Special Moves You Must Know
Castling
Castling is a special king-and-rook move that accomplishes two things at once: it moves your king to safety and activates your rook. The king moves two squares towards a rook, and that rook jumps to the other side of the king. You can castle kingside (O-O) or queenside (O-O-O). Castling is only allowed when:
- Neither the king nor the chosen rook has previously moved.
- There are no pieces between the king and rook.
- The king is not in check, and does not pass through or land on a square attacked by an enemy piece.
En Passant
This is a special pawn capture. If your opponent advances a pawn two squares from its starting position and it lands beside your pawn, you can capture it as if it had only moved one square. This must be done immediately on the very next move, or the right is lost.
Pawn Promotion
When a pawn reaches the opposite end of the board (the 8th rank for White, the 1st rank for Black), it must be promoted to any other piece — queen, rook, bishop, or knight. Most players choose a queen since it is the strongest piece.
Key Takeaway: Learning how the pieces move is just the beginning. The real skill comes from understanding when and where to move them. Practice moving each piece on an empty board until the movements feel natural.
What's Next?
Now that you know how every piece moves, the next step is learning basic strategy — controlling the centre, developing your pieces, and keeping your king safe. At Game On Chess Academy, our Beginners Program guides you through all of this with structured lessons and practice games.
Have questions about the rules or want personalised guidance? Get in touch with us — our coaches are happy to help you get started.