1. How many legal first moves does White have?
Answer: White has 20 legal first moves.
How Many Legal First Moves Are There in Chess?
Quick answer: legal first moves
White has 20 legal first moves in standard chess. That means 16 pawn moves and 4 knight moves.
The full list is: a3, a4, b3, b4, c3, c4, d3, d4, e3, e4, f3, f4, g3, g4, h3, h4, Na3, Nc3, Nf3 and Nh3.
20Total legal first moves for White.
16Legal pawn first moves.
4Legal knight first moves.
0Legal bishop, rook, queen or king first moves.
Legal first move checker
Choose a move type and see why it is legal or illegal from the starting position.
Legal first moves quiz
Answer eight quick questions about pawn moves, knight moves, illegal first moves and common openings.
2. How many legal pawn first moves are there?
Answer: Eight pawns can each move one or two squares, making 16 pawn moves.
3. How many legal knight first moves are there?
Answer: The four knight moves are Na3, Nc3, Nf3 and Nh3.
4. Which piece can move before any pawn moves?
Answer: Knights can jump over occupied squares.
5. Can White castle on the first move?
Answer: Castling is not legal because pieces are still between the king and rook.
6. Which first move is legal and very common?
Answer: 1.e4 is legal and very common; 1.Qe2 is not legal from the starting position.
7. Why cannot a bishop move first?
Answer: Bishops are blocked by White's own pawns at the start.
8. What is the key warning about legal first moves?
Answer: Legal and good are different. Some legal first moves are rare or weak.
Legal first move table
| Category | Moves | Count |
|---|---|---|
| One-square pawn moves | a3, b3, c3, d3, e3, f3, g3, h3 | 8 |
| Two-square pawn moves | a4, b4, c4, d4, e4, f4, g4, h4 | 8 |
| Knight moves | Na3, Nc3, Nf3, Nh3 | 4 |
| Bishop, rook, queen, king moves | None from the starting position | 0 |
| Total legal first moves | All legal pawn and knight starts | 20 |
Legal First Moves in Chess FAQs
These answers explain the 20 legal first moves, pawn moves, knight moves, common choices, rare choices and illegal starting moves.
Main answer
How many legal first moves are there in chess?
There are 20 legal first moves for White in chess: 16 pawn moves and 4 knight moves.
What are the 20 legal first moves in chess?
The 20 legal first moves are a3, a4, b3, b4, c3, c4, d3, d4, e3, e4, f3, f4, g3, g4, h3, h4, Na3, Nc3, Nf3 and Nh3.
How many pawn first moves are legal in chess?
There are 16 legal pawn first moves because each of White's eight pawns can move one square or two squares from its starting square.
How many knight first moves are legal in chess?
There are 4 legal knight first moves: Na3, Nc3, Nf3 and Nh3.
Why are only pawns and knights legal first moves?
Only pawns and knights can move at the start because all bishops, rooks, the queen and the king are blocked by their own pieces.
Can White move a bishop first in chess?
No. White cannot move a bishop on the first move because the bishops are blocked by pawns at the start.
Illegal starts
Can White move the queen first in chess?
No. White cannot move the queen on the first move because the queen is blocked by White's own pieces.
Can White move the king first in chess?
No. White cannot move the king on the first move because the king is blocked by surrounding pieces.
Can White move a rook first in chess?
No. White cannot move a rook on the first move because both rooks are blocked by White's own pieces.
Can White castle on the first move?
No. Castling is not legal on the first move because pieces are still between the king and rook.
Is 1.e4 a legal first move?
Yes. 1.e4 is legal because the king's pawn can move two squares from e2 to e4 on its first move.
Is 1.d4 a legal first move?
Yes. 1.d4 is legal because the queen's pawn can move two squares from d2 to d4 on its first move.
Knight and common moves
Is 1.Nf3 a legal first move?
Yes. 1.Nf3 is legal because the g1 knight can jump to f3 at the start of the game.
Is 1.Nc3 a legal first move?
Yes. 1.Nc3 is legal because the b1 knight can jump to c3 at the start of the game.
Is 1.Na3 a legal first move?
Yes. 1.Na3 is legal, although it is rare because the knight moves to the edge of the board.
Is 1.Nh3 a legal first move?
Yes. 1.Nh3 is legal, although it is rare because the knight moves to the edge and has less central influence.
Are all legal first moves good chess openings?
No. All 20 first moves are legal, but only some are common or strategically strong opening choices.
What are the most common legal first moves?
The most common legal first moves are 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.Nf3 and 1.c4, with 1.e4 and 1.d4 especially central.
Popularity and rules
What are the rarest legal first moves?
Rare legal first moves include 1.Na3, 1.Nh3, 1.a4, 1.h4, 1.f3 and 1.g4, depending on the database.
Why are 1.e4 and 1.d4 so common?
1.e4 and 1.d4 are common because they fight for the centre and open lines for development.
Why are knight moves legal before pawns move?
Knights are legal before pawns move because knights can jump over occupied squares.
How many legal first moves does Black have after White moves?
Black usually has 20 legal replies from the starting setup after White makes a normal first move, though the exact position is no longer the original starting position.
Does check affect the first move count?
No. The starting position is not check, so White simply has the normal 20 legal first moves.
Do promotions affect the first move count?
No. Promotions cannot happen on the first move from the normal starting position.
Edge cases
Do en passant rules affect the first move count?
No. En passant cannot happen on the first move, so it does not change the 20 legal first moves.
Do chess variants have the same number of first moves?
Not necessarily. The count of 20 legal first moves applies to standard chess from the normal starting position.
How many legal first moves start with a central pawn?
Four legal first moves use the central d- and e-pawns: d3, d4, e3 and e4.
How many legal first moves develop a piece?
Four legal first moves develop a piece: Na3, Nc3, Nf3 and Nh3. They are all knight moves.
What is the common mistake about legal first moves?
The common mistake is confusing legal with good. All 20 first moves are legal, but only a few are popular main opening choices.
What is the short answer for legal first moves in chess?
The short answer is 20 legal first moves: 16 pawn moves and 4 knight moves.
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