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Although a chess board looks similar to a checker board, the movement of chess pieces is very unique.  Each piece has its own set of rules for movement, and some come with exceptions and special moves.  This article will cover all the standard moves each piece makes.

Kings

The King can move one space in any direction, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.  If the square the King moves to is occupied by a piece belonging to the opponent, that piece is captured and should be moved off the board.  The King cannot move into a space occupied by a piece of the same color. (For example, the black King cannot take a space occupied by a black Bishop—this rule applies to all pieces.)

Queens

The Queen can move in any straight line for any distance either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.  The Queen can move as many spaces in this straight line as desired, up to the edge of the board or until she runs into another piece.  The Queen cannot move past, or “jump” another piece on the board.  The Queen can take an opponent’s piece by moving into the square that the piece occupies.  This ends the move.

Bishops

Bishops can only move along a diagonal.  Like the Queen, the length of the Bishop’s move is up to the player, unless the Bishop runs into another piece.  Bishops capture the opponent’s pieces in the same way the Queen does.

Knights

Knights have possibly the most complicated move.  Knights move two spaces horizontally or vertically, and one space perpendicular to the horizontal or vertical line made by the first two spaces.  The Knight’s move is L shaped.  In moving, Knights “jump” other pieces—this means that any pieces the Knight passes between his starting space and ending space are not captured.  Knights capture opponent pieces by “landing” or ending the L move in the square occupied by that piece.

Rooks

Rooks move in a straight horizontal or vertical line for any distance to the end of the board or until the Rook runs into another piece.  (With the exception of Castling, which is covered under Tips, Tricks and Special Moves.)  Rooks capture opponents in the same way as Queens and Bishops.

Pawns

Pawns generally have two moves.  A pawn can move one space forward if the space in front of the pawn is empty.  A pawn cannot capture by moving forward where another piece resides.  Pawns move diagonally to capture, but cannot move diagonally unless there is a piece to capture.  An exception to the one space forward rule for pawns comes on the pawn’s first move of the game.  If the pawn has not yet been moved from the second row, the player has the option to move the pawn two spaces forward instead of one.  (An exception to Pawn movement is the en-passant move, which is covered under Tips, Tricks, and Special Moves.)

To set up your board for play, you must first make sure the players are sitting on the correct sides of the board.  Players should sit opposite each other with a side of the square board running directly in front of them.  Both players should have a white square all the way to the right.  A common phrase in chess is “white on the right” to remember this rule.

Once both players are properly seated, begin setting up pieces.  Each player must choose a color, either black or white.  Each color includes all the same pieces.

The pieces in chess are:

• King – tallest piece, generally with cross on top
• Queen – second in height, with crown
• Bishops (2) –with a pointed top, or mitre (ceremonial headdress of Catholic bishops)
• Knights (2) – horses
• Rook (2) – towers or castles
• Pawns (8) – smallest pieces of the set

Pieces are placed on the board as follows:

Rooks for each player are put in the corners of the row nearest the player.  Next to both rooks, a knight is placed, and then a bishop.  Each player should now have a row on the edge of his side of the board with Rook, Knight, Bishop, Space, Space, Bishop, Knight,  Rook.

Each player has two spaces in the middle of the first row:  One black space and one white space.  Each player places their queen on her matching color.  The white queen is placed on the white space, and the black queen on the black.  Another popular phrase for beginning chess players is “queens on color”.  Kings, of course, are placed on the remaining space in the first row.

The second row for each player is filled by pawns.

Each player should now have two rows directly in front of them occupied by their 16 chess pieces.   The board is ready for play!