♟️ Meet the Chess Pieces – Moves, Value & Tips
Every chess game begins with an army of 16 pieces per side, each possessing unique movement patterns and strategic roles. From the soul of the game, the Pawn, to the decisive power of the Queen, understanding how these pieces interact is the foundation of all strategy. This guide introduces the cast of characters, explaining their moves, relative values, and special abilities to get you started.
♙ Pawns – The Foot Soldiers
Pawns move forward one square, capture diagonally, and may move two squares on their first move.
Value: 1 point
Tip: Pawns control space and open lines for your pieces.
♞ Knights – Jumping Attackers
Knights move in an L-shape and can jump over other pieces.
Value: 3 points
Tip: Knights are strongest near the center.
♗ Bishops – Diagonal Specialists
Bishops move diagonally and stay on the same color.
Value: 3 points
Tip: Keep bishops unobstructed.
♖ Rooks – Files and Ranks
Rooks move horizontally or vertically and thrive on open files.
Value: 5 points
Tip: Activate rooks on open files.
♕ The Queen – Ultimate Power
The queen combines rook and bishop movement.
Value: 9 points
Tip: Don’t bring the queen out too early.
♔ The King – Must Be Protected
The king moves one square in any direction.
Value: Infinite
Tip: Castle early for safety.
📊 Summary Table
| Piece | Value | Movement |
|---|---|---|
| Pawn | 1 | Forward, captures diagonally |
| Knight | 3 | L-shape, jumps pieces |
| Bishop | 3 | Diagonal |
| Rook | 5 | Rank & file |
| Queen | 9 | Any direction |
| King | ∞ | One square |