Chess Pieces: Names, Moves, Values & Codes
There are six chess pieces: King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight, and Pawn. Each player begins with 16 pieces (32 total), and every piece moves in its own unique way.
Last updated: 2026-03-04
Quick reference for chess piece names, how each piece moves, how many pieces are in chess,
plus notation codes, typical piece values, and a simple way to practice.
Quick answers
- What are the 16 pieces in chess called? 1 King, 1 Queen, 2 Rooks, 2 Bishops, 2 Knights, 8 Pawns (per player).
- How many pieces are in a chess set? 32 total (16 white + 16 black).
- Names of chess pieces: King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight, Pawn.
- Piece codes (notation): K, Q, R, B, N (Pawns have no letter).
- Typical piece values: Pawn=1, Knight=3, Bishop=3, Rook=5, Queen=9, King=∞.
Jump to a piece
How the chess pieces move (interactive diagrams)
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Pawn
Pawns move forward one square. On their first move they may move two squares. Pawns capture diagonally forward.
Value: 1 | Code: (none)
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Knight
Knights move in an L-shape (two squares one way, then one square sideways). They are the only piece that can jump over other pieces.
Value: 3 | Code: N
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Bishop
Bishops move diagonally any number of squares. Each bishop stays on its starting color (light or dark).
Value: 3 | Code: B
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Rook
Rooks move horizontally or vertically any number of squares (like a +).
Value: 5 | Code: R
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Queen
The queen combines rook + bishop power: she moves any number of squares in any direction.
Value: 9 | Code: Q
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King
The king moves one square in any direction. If your king is checkmated, the game ends.
Value: ∞ | Code: K
Practice a piece (play vs the computer)
Choose a piece and play a short mini-position focused on how that piece moves.
Tip: if you’re unsure where a piece can go, scroll up to the diagrams first, then come back and try the same idea in a real mini-game.
FAQ (People also ask)
What are the 16 pieces in chess called?
Each player starts with 16 pieces: 1 King, 1 Queen, 2 Rooks, 2 Bishops, 2 Knights, and 8 Pawns.
How many of each chess piece are there?
Per side: 8 pawns, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 2 rooks, 1 queen, 1 king.
What are the names of chess pieces?
King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight, Pawn.
What are the code names for chess pieces?
In algebraic notation: K (King), Q (Queen), R (Rook), B (Bishop), N (Knight). Pawns have no letter.
What are the standard chess piece values?
A common baseline: Pawn=1, Knight=3, Bishop=3, Rook=5, Queen=9. The King is invaluable because checkmate ends the game.
How many pieces are in a chess set?
A standard chess set has 32 pieces total: 16 white and 16 black.
What are the chess pieces called and how do they move?
The six chess piece types are king, queen, rook, bishop, knight, and pawn. The queen moves like a rook and bishop combined, rooks move in straight lines, bishops move diagonally, knights move in an L-shape, pawns move forward but capture diagonally, and the king moves one square in any direction.
What are the old names for chess pieces?
Some pieces have older or alternative names depending on region and tradition. For example, the rook is often called a “castle,” pawns are sometimes called “soldiers,” and knights are often called “horses.”
Who goes first, black or white?
White always moves first in chess. Black plays second.
Is the queen on D or E?
The queen starts on the d-file: White queen on d1 and Black queen on d8. A common memory trick is “queen on her own color.”
Is the king on e or d?
The king starts on the e-file: White king on e1 and Black king on e8.
What is the most powerful chess piece?
The queen is the most powerful piece because she has the greatest mobility, moving any number of squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
What's the weakest chess piece?
The pawn is the weakest in raw power because it moves the least, but pawns can be very important. A pawn that reaches the last rank can promote into a stronger piece.
Can a pawn become a queen?
Yes. If a pawn reaches the farthest rank, it promotes—most commonly into a queen (but it can also promote into a rook, bishop, or knight).
Why is Castle called rook?
“Castle” is a common nickname for the rook because the rook often looks like a castle tower in many chess sets. “Rook” is the standard name used in chess notation and most rulebooks.
Why is a rook called a rook?
The word “rook” comes from older historical names used as chess spread across cultures. In modern chess, “rook” is the standard name, and it’s written as R in algebraic notation.
What are the special moves for chess pieces?
The main special rules beginners learn are castling (king and rook move together), en passant (a special pawn capture), and promotion (a pawn becomes a new piece on the last rank).
What is a soldier called in chess?
A “soldier” is another name for a pawn.
What is a horse called in chess?
A “horse” is another name for a knight.
Can I practice piece moves against the computer here?
Yes. You can choose a piece, then play a short mini-position against the computer to practice how that piece moves in real play.