Chess Pieces: Names, Moves & Interactive Practice
The six chess piece types are king, queen, rook, bishop, knight, and pawn. Each player starts with 16 pieces, so a standard chess set begins with 32 pieces in total. This page shows what each piece is called, how it moves, what the major and minor pieces are, and lets you practise piece movement on interactive boards.
Quick answers
- 16 pieces per side: 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, 8 pawns.
- Six piece names: king, queen, rook, bishop, knight, pawn.
- Who moves first: White.
- Major pieces: queen and rooks.
- Minor pieces: bishops and knights.
- Notation codes: K, Q, R, B, N. Pawns have no letter.
Older books sometimes use the word chessmen. In modern beginner language, chess pieces is clearer.
Fast piece summary
Use this as a quick reference before you look at the diagrams.
| Piece | How it moves | Typical value | Code | Common nickname |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pawn
|
Forward 1 square, or 2 from the starting square; captures diagonally forward | 1 | None | Soldier |
Knight
|
L-shape: 2 squares one way and 1 square across; can jump | 3 | N | Horse |
Bishop
|
Diagonally any number of squares | 3 | B | None standard in English |
Rook
|
Horizontally or vertically any number of squares | 5 | R | Castle |
Queen
|
Like rook and bishop combined | 9 | Q | None standard |
King
|
One square in any direction; cannot move into check | Invaluable | K | None standard |
Jump to a piece
Major pieces and minor pieces
Beginners often see these terms in books and commentary, so it helps to know exactly what they mean.
The major pieces are the queen and the rooks. They are the heavy long-range pieces and become especially strong on open files, open ranks, and in endgames.
The minor pieces are the bishops and knights. They are developed early in many openings and are often the first pieces used for tactical ideas, forks, pins, and quick pressure.
The king is not called a major or minor piece. The king is the most important piece because the game is lost if the king is checkmated. Pawns are usually discussed separately from major and minor pieces.
How the chess pieces move
These boards show the basic movement pattern of each piece. Green highlights show normal move squares.
Pawn
The pawn moves forward one square at a time. From its starting square, a pawn may move two squares on its first move.
The pawn captures differently from how it moves. It captures one square diagonally forward, not straight ahead.
Beginner tip: pawns look slow, but they shape the whole board and can promote if they reach the last rank.
Knight
The knight moves in an L-shape. It goes two squares in one direction and one square at a right angle.
The knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces. Blocking pieces do not stop a knight.
Beginner tip: the knight always changes square color after a move.
Bishop
The bishop moves diagonally any number of squares, as long as no piece blocks the path.
Yes, a bishop can move backwards. It can move diagonally in any direction, not just forwards.
Beginner tip: each bishop stays on one color for the whole game.
Rook
The rook moves horizontally or vertically any number of squares.
The rook cannot jump over pieces. If a piece blocks the file or rank, the rook must stop before it or capture it if it is an enemy piece.
Beginner tip: rooks are especially strong on open files and in endgames.
Queen
The queen moves like a rook and bishop combined. It can go horizontally, vertically, or diagonally any number of squares.
The queen is the most powerful piece in raw mobility. That is why beginners are taught to avoid bringing the queen out too early without support.
Beginner tip: power is not the same as safety. An exposed queen can be chased around.
King
The king moves one square in any direction. It can move horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
The king cannot move into check. A king may capture an enemy piece only if the destination square is safe.
Beginner tip: two kings can never stand next to each other because those squares would be illegal.
How captures and blocking work
Knowing the movement pattern is only half the story. You also need to know what stops a piece and how captures happen.
Most pieces capture by landing on the enemy piece’s square. The captured piece is removed and your piece takes its place.
Rooks, bishops, and queens cannot move through pieces. Friendly pieces block them, and enemy pieces stop the line as well. They may capture the first enemy piece on that line, but they cannot continue past it on the same move.
The knight is the exception. Knights jump, so pieces in between do not matter.
Pawns are another exception. They move straight ahead but capture diagonally ahead, which is why beginners often find pawn movement the trickiest at first.
The king has one extra rule. Even if a capture looks possible by movement alone, the king may not capture onto a square attacked by an enemy piece.
Common beginner confusions
Chessmen and chess pieces usually mean the same thing. “Chessmen” is older wording. “Chess pieces” is the clearer modern phrase.
Rook and castle usually refer to the same piece. “Rook” is the standard chess term used in notation. “Castle” is a common beginner nickname based on the shape of many sets.
Horse means knight. Many beginners call the knight a horse because of how the piece looks.
The queen starts on the d-file and the king starts on the e-file. White queen on d1, white king on e1, black queen on d8, black king on e8.
Pawns still count as pieces. In everyday beginner language, pawns are part of the chess pieces, even though some advanced chess phrases use “piece” more narrowly.
Practice a piece against the computer
Pick a piece, then try a short mini-position focused on that piece’s movement. This is a simple way to turn the rules into real board experience.
Best loop: read the movement rule, look at the board, then try the same piece in a real mini-position.
Common questions about chess pieces
These are the questions beginners ask most often when learning the names, setup, and movement rules.
Names and setup
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 pieces are in a chess set?
A standard chess set has 32 pieces in total: 16 white pieces and 16 black pieces.
What are the names of the chess pieces?
The six chess piece types are king, queen, rook, bishop, knight, and pawn.
What are chess men called?
Chess men are usually called chess pieces. In older chess writing, “chessmen” means the pieces on the board, including the pawns.
Who goes first in chess?
White goes first in chess. Black moves 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 simple 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.
Movement rules
How does the rook move in chess?
The rook moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically, as long as no piece blocks the path.
Can the bishop move backwards?
Yes. A bishop can move diagonally forwards or backwards as long as the path is clear.
How does the king move in chess?
The king moves one square in any direction, but it cannot move into check.
Can a king capture a piece?
Yes. A king can capture an enemy piece if that piece is not protected and the capture square is safe.
Can two kings stand next to each other?
No. Two kings cannot stand next to each other because each king would be attacking the other king’s square.
Can a pawn become a queen?
Yes. When a pawn reaches the last rank, it can promote, most often to a queen.
Major and minor pieces
What are the major pieces in chess?
The major pieces are the queen and the rooks. They are the heavy long-range pieces.
What are the minor pieces in chess?
The minor pieces are the bishops and knights. They are lighter pieces than the queen and rooks.
What is the most powerful chess piece?
The queen is the most powerful chess piece because it combines rook and bishop movement.
What is the weakest chess piece?
The pawn is the weakest piece in raw mobility and value, but pawns are still very important because they control space and can promote.
What are the code names for chess pieces?
In algebraic notation the codes are K for king, Q for queen, R for rook, B for bishop, and N for knight. Pawns do not use a letter.
Names and terminology
Why is a rook called a rook?
Rook is the standard chess name used in notation and rulebooks. Many beginners also call it a castle because of the shape used in many chess sets.
What is a horse called in chess?
A horse is called a knight in standard chess language.
What is a soldier called in chess?
A soldier is usually called a pawn in chess.
Can I practice piece moves against the computer here?
Yes. You can choose a piece and play a short mini-position against the computer to practise how that piece moves in real play.