Names of all Chess Pieces

Learn chess and get to know the names of all chess pieces.
You got 1 King, 1 Queen, 2 Rooks, 2 Bishops, 2 Knights and 8 Pawns on 64 squares.

The basic start position in chess is like this: See the chess position below. When you put the chess pieces on to the chess board, you should place them correctly on to the right squares. There are some rules to follow.

There must be a white square at the right corner!

The white queen must be on a white square.

The black queen must be on black square.

Number 1 is always where the white pieces are placed.

White moves first.

Click on each chess piece above then a window will open and you can see how the chess piece can move. You will see only the chess moves of this particular piece that you have clicked but not the opponents moves. This makes it easier for you to memorize the behavior of the piece.

The King

The King is the most important piece. The object of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king. This is done by controlling all squares around the king with your pieces and check him at the same time. This makes it impossible for him to escape and the game is then finished. It is said the king is in checkmate.

If a king is threatened with capture (is in check), it is said that he is in check. The player must move the king away from the check or destroy the enemy piece that is checking the king or intercepting another piece to neutralize the check.

If this cannot be done the king is said to be in checkmate and the game is lost for the player. see Checkmate Positions

Don't go for checkmate right away

You don't go for checkmate right away as the opponent has his whole army to defend the king. It is almost impossible to checkmate right from the start if the player plays reasonable chess and does not open up the kingside.

Set up your pieces first and castle

Try first to set up your pieces on good positions where they control the center and castle as fast as possible to bring your king to safety.

Try to win material

After that go and try to win material (pieces and pawns) until you finally penetrate to the enemy king because of a superior position and overwhelming material. Chess is a materialistic game, so win material first if you can.

Trade off pieces and go into the endgame

If you have won material then trade off as many pieces as possible and go into the endgame where you will win the enemy pawns and try to move a pawn to the eight rank to transform it into a queen. After that you can easily checkmate the king with your queen.

This is a rough guideline

This is just a very rough guideline for beginners. Chess is far more complex than that. But you have to start somewhere. When you know the names of all chess pieces learn how they move and play a game to get practise.