#CHESS SET LAYOUT HOW TO#

Pawns can only move forward one square at a time, except for their very first move where they can move forward two squares. Pawns are unusual because they move and capture in different ways: they move forward but capture diagonally. Knights are also the only pieces that can move over other pieces. Knights move in a very different way from the other pieces – going two squares in one direction, and then one more move at a 90-degree angle, just like the shape of an “L”. Each bishop starts on one color (light or dark) and must always stay on that color.īishops work well together because they cover up each other's weaknesses. The bishop may move as far as it wants, but only diagonally. The rooks are particularly powerful pieces when they are protecting each other and working together! The rook may move as far as it wants, but only forward, backward, and to the sides. Notice how the white queen captures the black queen and then the black king is forced to move. She can move in any one straight direction - forward, backward, sideways, or diagonally - as far as possible as long as she does not move through any of her own pieces.Īnd, like with all pieces, if the queen captures an opponent's piece her move is over. When the king is attacked by another piece this is called 'check'. The king may never move himself into check (where he could be captured). The king can only move one square in any direction - up, down, to the sides, and diagonally. The king is the most important piece, but is one of the weakest. Pieces are generally moved into positions where they can capture other pieces (by landing on their square and then replacing them), defend their own pieces in case of capture, or control important squares in the game. However, they can be moved to take the place of an opponent's piece which is then captured. Pieces cannot move through other pieces (though the knight can jump over other pieces), and can never move onto a square with one of their own pieces. Recommended Tool -> Train your vision of the boardĮach of the 6 different kinds of pieces moves differently. Set up the pieces at the beginning of the game will be really easy. The rooks go in the corners, then the knights next to them, followed by the bishops, and finally the queen, who always goes on her own matching color (white queen on white, black queen on black), and the king on the remaining square. The second row (or rank) is filled with pawns. The chess pieces are then arranged the same way each time. Here's a video of IM Danny Rensch explaining all the rules you need to know to start playing chess.Īt the beginning of the game the chessboard is laid out so that each player has the white (or light) color square in the bottom right-hand side.

#CHESS SET LAYOUT HOW TO#

It's never too late to learn how to play chess-the most popular game in the world! Learning the rules of chess is easy:

Chess set layout