How Pieces Move
Learn how each chess piece moves, with exercises from a popular Lichess beginner curriculum. Perfect for absolute beginners.
The Rook
The rook moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically. It cannot jump over pieces.
How does the rook move?
Capture the pawn! The rook moves vertically along the e-file.
Capture both pawns! Start by taking the pawn on c5.
Now move horizontally to capture the second pawn.
Capture all three pawns! Start with the pawn on a4.
Now move across to capture the pawn on g4.
One step down to get the last pawn.
The Bishop
The bishop moves diagonally any number of squares. It always stays on the same color squares for the entire game.
How does the bishop move?
Navigate the bishop through a zigzag of captures! Start with c2.
Continue the diagonal to capture the pawn on a4.
Sweep back up the diagonal to d7.
Finish by capturing the last pawn on h3.
Can a bishop on a light square ever reach a dark square?
The Queen
The queen is the most powerful piece. She combines the rook and bishop, moving any number of squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
How does the queen move?
The queen can move like a rook. Capture the pawn on e5.
Capture all three pawns! Start with the diagonal capture on f2.
Move straight up the file to capture on f8.
Finish with a long diagonal to capture the last pawn.
The King
The king moves one square in any direction. It is the most important piece. If your king is checkmated, you lose the game!
How far can the king move?
Walk the king through the pawns, capturing each one. Start with e4.
Keep going! One more step to capture the next pawn.
Capture the last pawn. The king can only move one square at a time!
The Knight
The knight moves in an L-shape: two squares in one direction, then one square to the side. It is the only piece that can jump over other pieces!
How does the knight move?
Capture both pawns with L-shaped jumps! Start with c5.
Now jump to capture the second pawn on d7.
Navigate the knight through three captures! Start with c3.
Jump to e2 for the next capture.
Finish by capturing the last pawn on d4.
The knight can jump over other pieces. Even surrounded by pawns, it can reach any L-shaped square!
Can the knight jump over other pieces?
The Pawn
The pawn moves forward one or two squares from its starting position. This pawn has not moved yet, so it can jump two squares forward!
How many squares can a pawn move on its first move?
This pawn has already moved from its starting square. Now it can only advance one square.
Pawns capture diagonally forward, one square to the left or right. Take the black pawn on d3!
How does a pawn capture?
When a pawn reaches the last rank, it promotes to a queen, rook, bishop, or knight. Promote this pawn!
What happens when a pawn reaches the other side?
Advance the pawn one square. Next turn it can capture the black pawn diagonally!
Now capture the pawn diagonally!
Castling
Castling moves the king two squares toward a rook, and the rook jumps to the other side. Castle kingside here!
What is castling?
You can also castle queenside (long castle). Move the king to c1 and the rook jumps to d1.
Check and Checkmate
Check means the king is under attack. Move the rook to a8 to put the black king in check!
What is check?
Checkmate ends the game. The black king is trapped behind its own pawns. Deliver checkmate!
What is checkmate?
The white king controls e7, f7, and g7. The rook delivers checkmate on the back rank!
Piece Values
Each piece has a value: Pawn=1, Knight=3, Bishop=3, Rook=5, Queen=9. A bishop and knight are equal. Capture the knight!
What are the piece values?
The queen (9 points) can capture the undefended rook (5 points). Always look for free pieces!
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