Chess pieces and how they move on the Chess Board.
Chess can look scary for someone that has never associated with it. The thought of maneuvering 16 pieces on the board to beat your opponent who is also striving to beat you is overwhelming especially considering that pieces don't move the same; some jump, some move diagnoally, others in straightlines and so on. But there is nothing to be afraid of. Learning takes a day or two with constant practice as am to show you in today's post as we tackle how each piece on the board moves.
Pawns.
Each side of the board has 8 pawns which are placed infront of all the other pieces as you can observe in the image above. The pawns are the smallest pieces, which pretty describes their slow movement with the fewest options to move on the chessboard. They only take one step straight forward except on their first move where they can take 2 steps forward. When they are capturing the opponent's piece, they take one step forward but diagonally.
The pawn transforms into any piece it likes when it reaches the other end of the board.
Knight
The knights are the horse-like pieces which are placed next to the rooks as you can observe on the chessboard. They are two on the board on each side. Knights move in an L form, 2 squares in one direction, and one more square vertical to the first 2 movements. This piece is the only one that can jump other pieces during it's movement.
Bishop.
Just like the Knights, the bishops are 2 on the board on either side with their tops modeled in a shape of a bishop cap. Both the bishops and knights are called minor pieces. Bishops are located next to the knights as you can observe on the board and they move in a diagonal form in all directions.
Rook.
Rooks too are 2 on either side and are placed in the corners of the board. Their top is modeled in a shape of a tower. They move any number of squares; forward, backward, left or right.
Queen.
The Queen is only one on the board on either side with a top shaped inform of a crown. It is positioned next to the bishop in the center in a square matching the color the player is taking. It moves any number of squares in all directions making it the most powerful piece on the chessboard.
King.
The King is also one on the board on either side and is placed in the other square in the center. it's top is characterised by a cross on the head. It moves one square in all directions.
This is how pieces on the chessboard move. Note that all pieces capture any piece of the opponent that's in their way except for the pawn which only captures in a diagonal form. And no piece can jump another piece except for the Knight.