They are often referred to as the “minor pieces” as they are slightly less powerful than the rooks and the queen. There are two bishops on each side, one positioned on the light squares and the other on the dark squares. They are represented by tall, slender pieces with a distinct pointed top. The eight pawns are named after their respective positions, from left to right, as a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and h pawns.īishops are powerful pieces that move diagonally on the chessboard. They are positioned in front of the other pieces and form a protective barrier. In this section, we will provide a basic overview of the six types of chess pieces: The King, The Queen, The Rook, The Bishop, The Knight, and The Pawn. To play chess, you need to know the names of the pieces and how they move. The queen can capture like a rook and a bishop. The pawn is the least powerful and the bishop is the most powerful. The king is the most important piece and the queen is the most powerful. Pawns are the foot soldiers of the chess army, representing the lowest rank on the chessboard. Chess is a game of strategy that has been played for centuries. Learn about the six different types of chess pieces and how they move, value, and capture in the game of chess. As a chess grandmaster, I have spent countless hours studying, playing, and analyzing the various chess pieces, and their names have become deeply ingrained in my understanding of the game. Each piece has its own unique name and role on the chessboard, contributing to the dynamics and strategies of the game. If you want to get a game going, there is a chessboard already set up for you at Chess.The names of the chess pieces are an integral part of the game and hold great significance in the world of chess. Still have doubts? Check out this video by IM Danny Rensch. One way is to hide a white pawn in one hand behind your back and have your opponent choose. You can decide who plays White and who plays Black through any method of chance. In chess, the player with the white pieces always moves first. Step 7: Place your king on the last square.Īt this point there will be only one vacant square, so your king should naturally take his place. It should go on the same color square as her army: white queen on the light square and black queen on the dark square. It does matter which square your queen goes on. It may move any number of squares horizontally or vertically without jumping, and it may capture an enemy piece on. Step 6: Your queen goes on her own color. The rook is a piece in the game of chess.

The bishops stand in between the stinky knights and the royal king and queen. Imagine that you are putting some smelly horses on the board and you want them far away from the king and queen.

Step 4: Place your knights next to your rooks. It’s easy to remember to set your rooks in the corners, just like the towers in a real castle. Putting all of your pawns on first helps to clear the pile of pieces next to the board so that the rest of your pieces will go on more quickly. Step 2: Set up the pawns on the second ranks (or rows). An easy way to remember this is “white on the right.” It’s important to orient the board in the right direction so that each side will be set up correctly. Step 1: Lay out t he board with the light square in the bottom-right corner.

Place your king in the last square available.

Lay out the light square in the bottom-right corner.

If you have a chess set and want to start a game, the first thing you need to do is get the board set up correctly.

Name of chess pieces