Understanding the chess pieces is very important to play chess or talk about chess in your group. If you bought a new chess board and don't know what all those pieces are called, you're not alone. In fact, it can seem like there are a hundred rules in chess, but the first thing that every player has to work on is understanding the pieces of the game.
Every single piece on the chess board has a job to do — some sneak around corners, some charge straight ahead, and others sit back waiting to strike when the time is right. But if you don’t know who does what, the whole game can feel like a chance.
In this guide, we’re going to break it down in the simplest way possible. Whether you’re learning to play for fun, teaching your kid the basics, or just want to finally know what all those pieces in the box do, this is for you.
Types of Chess Pieces and How They Move
1. The Pawn
In the chess board, there are eight pawns on each side, and they’re the small ones lined up in the front row. They look harmless, but they can be surprisingly tricky.
How they move:
Pawns move forward — only forward — one square at a time. On their first move, though, they can move two squares. They capture diagonally, not straight ahead, which throws a lot of people off in the beginning.
What they do:
These are your soldiers, for example. They protect the bigger pieces, block attacks, and sometimes even become queens if they reach the end of the board. (Yes, really.)
2. The Rook
Each player gets two rooks in a chess set — one on the kingside and one on the queenside. They always start in the corners. So for white, that’s a1 and h1. For black, it’s a8 and h8. The rook is one of the strongest chess pieces on the board, second only to the queen. It’s worth five points, which means it can swing the game when used right.
How they move:
Straight lines only — up, down, left, or right — as far as they want. But no jumping over other pieces.
What they do:
Rooks are all about control and power. Once the board opens up, they become game-changers. Also, they’re part of a special move called castling, which we’ll get into later.
3. The Knight
Each side has two knights—one sits beside the queen, the other beside the king. At the beginning of a chess game, White’s knights go on b1 and g1, while Black’s go on b8 and g8.
Now, here’s what makes the knight special: it’s the only chess piece that jumps. Yes, it literally hops over other pieces. That’s something no other piece can do.
How they move:
Two squares in one direction, then one square to the side — like an L shape. They’re also the only ones that can jump over other pieces.
What they do:
Knights are the sneaky ones. They go where others can’t and often land surprise attacks. If someone’s not watching closely, a knight can cause real damage.
4. The Bishop
The bishops sit next to the knights. They’re tall and usually have a little cut or slit on top. Each side gets two bishops, and they each stay loyal to their square color — one sticks to light squares, the other to dark. That never changes. From the start of the chess game, White’s bishops sit on c1 and f1, while Black’s are placed on c8 and f8.
How they move:
Diagonally, any number of squares, as long as it’s the same color square they started on. One bishop stays on light squares, the other on dark.
What they do:
Bishops are great for long-range control. When positioned well, they can quietly dominate from a distance. But they’re also a bit stuck since they only cover half the board.
5. The Queen
This is the tallest piece on the board and the most powerful one. Each side has one queen. The queen is the real boss on the chess board. At the start of every game, each side gets one. White’s queen sits on d1, and Black’s takes position on d8. A simple rule to remember: the queen always starts on her own color — white queen on the light square, black queen on the dark.
How she moves:
Any number of squares in any direction — straight or diagonal. Basically, combine the moves of a rook and a bishop.
What she does:
The queen is your strongest weapon. She defends, attacks, and controls huge portions of the board. Lose your queen early, and the game gets a lot harder.
6. The King
The king is the one you protect at all costs. He usually wears a little crown or has a cross on top. The king might not have the crazy moves, but make no mistake. He’s the piece the entire chess game is built around. You lose your king; the game is over. That’s literally the whole point of the game: protect yours, and trap your opponent’s.
How he moves:
One square at a time, in any direction. Slow, but steady.
What he does:
The king isn’t a fighter. He’s the reason the game exists. If your king is under attack (check) and can’t escape (checkmate), the game is over. So keep him safe.
Chess Piece Values: Which Ones Matter More?
Not all chess pieces are created for the same purpose. Some are worth trading. And others are not so much. Here’s a quick breakdown of the point values players usually follow:
Pawn – 1 Point
The smallest piece, and the cheapest one to lose. But don’t underestimate it. When it reaches the last rank, it can turn into a queen. That makes it way more powerful than its price tag suggests.
Knight – 3 Points
Knights are tricky, especially in crowded positions. They can hop over pieces and create forks — where one move attacks two pieces at once. Solid for sneak attacks.
Bishop – 3 Points
Same value as knights, but they’re long-range fighters. Bishops work better in open positions, where their diagonal movement really shines. One covers light squares, the other dark — and they can’t switch.
Rook – 5 Points
Now we’re talking about real power. Rooks are major pieces, and once the board clears up, they’re deadly. If two rooks are together in the endgame, that’s serious trouble for your opponent.
Queen – 9 Points
The queen’s the most valuable piece (after the king, of course — because losing him ends the game). She’s fast, flexible, and hits almost every square in sight. Keep her protected.
King – Infinite
Technically, he’s not given a point value. That’s because the game ends the moment the king is trapped. Everything else you do — every strategy, every trick — is built around keeping him safe.
Common Chess Piece Strategies Beginners Miss
Knowing how a piece moves is step one. But knowing when and why to move it? That’s where good games are won. Let’s look at what beginners often overlook when using each chess piece during a chess game.
Don’t Move the Queen Too Early: She’s powerful, yes. But moving her out early makes her a target. Let the small guys (pawns, knights, bishops) do the dirty work first. Save the queen for when it matters.
Use Knights in Crowded Boards: Knights jump. That means they ignore traffic. In messy games where everything’s in the way, knights are your best friends. Place them near the center, and they’ll cover a lot of ground.
Develop Both Bishops: Players often move just one and forget the other. That’s like fighting with one arm. Get both bishops out, one on light squares, one on dark. And your board suddenly feels a lot wider.
Rooks Love Open Files: Rooks don’t do much in the beginning. They’re stuck behind pawns. But once a column clears up, park a rook there. It can control an entire vertical lane, and that’s huge.
King Safety is Everything: Beginner mistake: leaving your king in the middle. Don’t wait too long to castle. It’s one of the few defensive moves in the game that also brings out your rook. Two birds, one move.
Push Pawns with Purpose: Every pawn push opens something up. Sometimes for you, sometimes for your opponent. Don’t just throw them forward. Create space, block threats, or make way for your bishops and queen. Think before pushing.
Conclusion
So now you’ve been through all the chess pieces in this guide, from the tiny pawn that starts the battle to the king who ends it. Each of these chess pieces has its own job. And the way of controlling the chess board. And if you remember their starting spots, movement rules, and what role they play in a match, you're ahead of most people.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve just unboxed your first chess set or if you’re getting back into the game after years — getting to know your pieces makes every match feel a bit more natural. You stop wondering and start playing real chess. The kind where each move has a reason behind it. Whether you’re learning on a foldable plastic board at home or on a high-quality chess board with a friend at the park, this is where it all begins.
Understanding Chess Pieces FAQs
What are the roles of each chess piece?
Every chess piece has its own rules. Every piece is different. Check out this guide to understand their roles in detail.
How many chess pieces do you start with?
You start with 16 pieces on each side. That’s 8 pawns, 2 rooks, 2 knights, 2 bishops, a queen, and a king. No more, no less.
What’s the strongest piece on the chess board?
That’s the queen, hands down. She moves in any direction, covers long distances, and usually shows up right in the middle of most attacks.
Which piece jumps over the others?
Only the knight. It doesn't matter if there’s a crowd. It jumps right over them in an L shape. Every time.
How do the pawns move again?
They move straight, one square at a time (or two at the start), but they capture at an angle. Sounds weird, but once you see it, it clicks.
Can you turn a pawn into something else?
Yes. Get that pawn at the other end of the board, and you can swap it out. And most players choose a queen.
How should the queen be positioned?
Simple trick: the queen goes on her color. White queen on a white square (d1), black queen on a black square (d8). King fills the last spot beside her.