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Chess Piece Movement Rules

New to chess? Start by learning how each of the six pieces moves.

β™”

King

1

No point value (game ends if captured)

Movement Rule

Moves one square in any direction. Since the game ends the instant the king is checkmated, it is the single most important piece to protect.

β™•

Queen

1

9 points (the most powerful piece)

Movement Rule

Moves any number of squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Combining the moves of a rook and a bishop, it is the most powerful piece on the board.

β™–

Rook

2

5 points

Movement Rule

Moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically. Together with the king, it can perform the special move known as "castling."

β™—

Bishop

2

3 points

Movement Rule

Moves any number of squares diagonally. It stays on the same color square (light or dark) for the entire game.

β™˜

Knight

2

3 points

Movement Rule

Moves in an "L" shape (two squares in one direction plus one square perpendicular). It is the only piece that can jump over other pieces.

β™™

Pawn

8

1 point

Movement Rule

Normally moves one square straight forward (two squares on its first move), and captures diagonally one square forward. If it reaches the far end of the board, it can be promoted to another piece (usually a queen).

What is chess?

Chess is a strategy board game played by two people on an 8Γ—8 board, each starting with 16 pieces (1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, and 8 pawns). You win by checkmating your opponent's king.

What the point values mean

Point values aren't part of the official rules, but they're a widely used guide to each piece's relative strength. The queen (9 points) is the most powerful and the pawn (1 point) the weakest, though a piece's actual value can shift depending on its position and the situation on the board.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is castling?

Castling is a special move where the king and a rook move at the same time, helping protect the king while activating the rook. It's only allowed if neither piece has moved yet, there are no pieces between them, and the king is not in check.

Why is the knight the only piece that can jump over others?

Its L-shaped move is a fixed jump to a specific square rather than a path along a line, so β€” unlike the rook, bishop, or queen β€” nothing in between blocks it. That's what makes the knight uniquely useful for escaping crowded positions.