Fancy King Chess Piece Drawing

Game piece for playing chess

A chess piece, or chessman, is any of the six different types of movable objects used on a chessboard to play the game of chess.

Number of pieces [edit]

Chess pieces
	King
	Queen
	Rook
	Bishop
	Knight
	Pawn

Each player begins with a total of sixteen pieces (but see the subsection below for other usage of the term piece). The pieces that belong to each player are distinguished by color. The lighter colored pieces are referred to as "white," and the player that owns them, "White". The darker colored pieces are referred to as "black", and the player that owns them, "Black".

In a standard game, each of the two players begins with the following sixteen pieces:

1 king
1 queen
2 rooks
2 bishops
2 knights
8 pawns

Usage of the term piece [edit]

The word "piece" has three meanings, depending on the context. Context should make the intended meaning clear (Burgess 2009:523) (Hooper & Whyld 1992:307).

It may mean any of the physical pieces of the set, including the pawns. When used this way, "piece" is synonymous with "chessman" (Hooper & Whyld 1992:307) or simply "man" (Hooper & Whyld 1987:200) harvcol error: no target: CITEREFHooperWhyld1987 (help). Chess sets have been made in a variety of styles, sometimes for decorative or artistic purposes rather than practical play, but the Staunton pattern is standard for competition.
In play, the term is usually used to exclude pawns, referring only to a queen, rook, bishop, knight, or king. In this context, the pieces can be broken down into three groups: major pieces (queen and rooks), minor pieces (bishops and knights), and the king.(Brace 1977:220)
In phrases such as "winning a piece", "losing a piece" or "sacrificing a piece" and other related contexts, it refers only to minor pieces (bishops or knights). By convention, the queen, rooks, and pawns are specified by name in these cases – for example, "winning a queen", "losing a rook", or "sacrificing a pawn".(Just & Burg 2003:5)

Moves of the pieces [edit]

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Chess starting position. Squares are referenced using algebraic notation.

The rules of chess prescribe the types of move a player can make with each type of chess piece. Each piece type moves in a different way. During play, the players take turns moving one of their own chess pieces.

A rook moves any number of vacant squares forwards, backwards, left, or right in a straight line. It also takes part, along with the king, in a special move called castling.
A bishop moves any number of vacant squares diagonally in a straight line. Consequently, a bishop stays on squares of the same color throughout a game. The two bishops each player starts with move on squares of opposite colors.
The queen moves any number of vacant squares in any direction: forwards, backwards, left, right, or diagonally, in a straight line.
The king moves exactly one vacant square in any direction: forwards, backwards, left, right, or diagonally; however, it cannot move to a square that is under attack by an opponent, nor can a player make a move with another piece if it will leave the king in check. It also has a special move called castling, in which the king moves two squares towards one of its own rooks and in the same move, the rook jumps over the king to land on the square on the king's other side. Castling may only be performed if the king and rook involved have never previously been moved in the game, if the king is not in check, if the king would not travel through or into check, and if there are no pieces between the rook and the king.
A knight moves on an extended diagonal from one corner of any two-by-three rectangle of squares to the farthest opposite corner. Consequently, the knight alternates its square color each time it moves. Other than the castling move described above where the rook jumps over the king, the knight is the only piece permitted to routinely jump over any intervening piece(s) when moving.
A pawn moves forward exactly one square, or optionally, two squares when on its starting square, toward the opponent's side of the board. When there is an enemy piece one square diagonally ahead of a pawn, either left or right, then the pawn may capture that piece. A pawn can perform a special type of capture of an enemy pawn called en passant ("in passing"). If the pawn reaches a square on the back rank of the opponent, it promotes to the player's choice of a queen, rook, bishop, or knight (Just & Burg 2003:13–16).

Pieces other than pawns capture in the same way that they move, except for castling. A capturing piece replaces the opponent piece on its square, except for an en passant capture by a pawn. Captured pieces are immediately removed from the game. A square may hold only one piece at any given time. Except for castling and the knight's move, no piece may jump over another piece (Just & Burg 2003:13–16).

Relative value [edit]

The value assigned to a piece attempts to represent the potential strength of the piece in the game. As the game develops, the relative values of the pieces will also change. A bishop positioned to control long, open diagonal spaces is usually more valuable than a knight stuck in a corner. Similar ideas apply to placing rooks on open files and knights on active, central squares . The standard valuation is one point for a pawn, three points for a knight or bishop, five points for a rook, and nine points for a queen (Hooper & Whyld 1992:438–39). These values are reliable in endgames, particularly with a limited number of pieces. But these values can change dramatically depending on the position or the phase of the game (opening, middle game, or ending). A bishop pair for example, is worth an additional half-pawn on average (Soltis 2004:183). In specific circumstances, the values may be quite different: a knight can be more valuable than a queen in a particular decisive attack.

Illustration of chess pieces used in Courier chess by Gustav Selenus from the book "Das Schach-Oder Königs-Spiel" (1616). Depicted are the king, queen, rook, archer (or bishop), knight, pawn (or soldier), courier, man (or rath or sage), and jester.

Historical illustration [edit]

Courier Chess, a predecessor of modern chess, used all six modern chess piece types, plus three additional types of pieces:

A courier
A mann (or rath or sage)
A jester.

Piece names [edit]

The characters implied by pieces' names vary between languages. For example, in many languages, the piece known in English as the "knight" frequently translates as "horse", and the English "bishop" frequently translates as "elephant".

Language	King	Queen	Rook	Bishop	Knight	Pawn	Chess	Check	Checkmate/Mate
figure	♔ ♚	♕ ♛	♖ ♜	♗ ♝	♘ ♞	♙ ♟	n./a.	+ or †	# or ++ or ‡
Afrikaans	K Koning king	D Dame lady	T Toring tower	L Loper runner	R Ruiter rider	(P) Pion	Skaak	Skaak	Skaakmat
Albanian	M Mbreti king	D Dama / Mbretëresha lady / queen	T Torra tower	F Fili / Oficeri elephant / officer	K Kali horse	(U) Ushtari soldier	Shahu	Shah	Shah mat
Arabic	م مَلِك (malik) king	و وزير (wazïr) vizier	ر رخ / طابية (rukhkh / ṭābiya) fortress / castle	ف فيل (fīl) elephant	ح حصان (ħiṣān) horse	ب بيدق / عسكري (baidaq / `askarī) pawn / soldier	شطرنج (shaṭranj)	كِش مَلِك (kish malik)	كِش مات (kish māt)
Azerbaijani	Ş Şah shah	V Vəzir vizier	T Top cannon	F Fil elephant	A At horse	P Piyada foot soldier	Şahmat	şah shah	mat mat
Armenian	Ա Արքա (Ark῾a) king	Թ Թագուհի (T῾agowhi) queen	Ն Նավակ (Navak) ship	Փ Փիղ (P῾ił) elephant	Ձ Ձի (Dzi) horse	Զ Զինվոր (Zinvor) soldier	Շախմատ (Šaxmat) Ճատրակ (Čatrak)	Շախ (Šax)	Մատ (Mat)
Basque	E Erregea king	D Dama lady	G Gaztelua castle	A Alfila	Z Zalduna knight	(P) Peoia pawn	Xake	Xake	Xake mate
Belarusian (Taraškievica)	К кароль king	Вз візыр vizier	Лд ладзьдзя rook	А афіцэр officer	В вершнік rider	(Л) латнік pawn	Шахматы	Шах	Мат
Bengali	R রাজা (rājā) King	M মন্ত্রী (montri) Minister	N নৌকা (noukā) Boat	H গজ / হাতি (gôj / hāti) Elephant	G ঘোড়া (ghoṛā) Horse	B বোড়ে / সৈন্য (boṛe / śoinno) Walker/Troop	দাবা (dābā)	কিস্তি (kisti) Check	কিস্তিমাত (kistimāt) Checkmate
Bulgarian	Ц цар king	Д дама lady	Т топ cannon	О офицер officer	К кон horse	(П) пешка	Шахмат / Шах	Шах	(Шах и) мат
Catalan	R rei	D dama / reina lady / queen	T torre tower	A alfil	C cavall horse	(P) peó	Escacs	Escac / Xec	Escac i mat
Chinese	K 王 (wáng) king	Q 后 (hòu) queen	R 車 (jū) chariot	B 象 (xiàng) elephant	N 馬 (mǎ) horse	(P) 兵 (bīng) soldier	國際象棋 (guójì xiàngqí) international chess	將軍 (jiāngjūn)	將死 (jiāng sǐ)
Czech	K král king	D dáma lady	V věž tower	S střelec shooter	J jezdec rider	(P) pěšec foot soldier	Šachy	Šach	Mat
Danish	K konge king	D dronning queen	T tårn tower	L løber runner	S springer jumper	(B) bonde peasant	Skak	Skak	Skakmat
Dutch	K koning king	D dame lady / queen	T toren / kasteel tower / castle	L loper / raadsheer runner / counsellor	P paard horse	(pi) pion	Schaken	Schaak	Mat / Schaakmat
English	K king	Q queen	R rook, castle	B bishop	N knight	(P) pawn	Chess	Check	Checkmate / Mate
Esperanto	R reĝo king	D damo lady	T turo tower	K kuriero courier	Ĉ ĉevalo horse	(P) peono	Ŝako	Ŝak	Ŝakmato
Estonian^[1]	K kuningas king	L lipp flag	V vanker chariot / carriage	O oda spear	R ratsu riding horse	(E) ettur forwarder	Male after malev	Tuli / Šahh fire	Matt
Finnish	K kuningas king	D daami / kuningatar lady / queen	T torni tower	L lähetti messenger	R ratsu ride	(S) sotilas soldier	Shakki	Shakki	Matti / Shakkimatti
French	R roi king	D dame lady	T tour tower	F fou jester	C cavalier rider	(P) pion	Échecs	Échec	Échec et mat
Georgian	მფ მეფე (mep'e) king	ლ ლაზიერი (lazieri) queen	ე ეტლი (etli) chariot	კ კუ (ku) tortoise	მ მხედარი (mkhedari) rider	პ პაიკი (paiki) pawn	ჭადრაკი (Čadraki)	ქიში (K'ishi)	შამათი (Shamat'i)
German^[2]	K König king	D Dame lady / queen	T Turm tower	L Läufer runner	S Springer jumper	(B) Bauer peasant	Schach	Schach	Matt / Schachmatt
Greek	Ρ βασιλιάς (vasiliás) king	Β βασίλισσα (vasílissa) queen	Π πύργος (pýrgos) tower	Α αξιωματικός (axiomatikós) officer	Ι ίππος (íppos) horse	(Σ) πιόνι (pióni) pawn	Σκάκι (Skáki)	Σαχ (Sach)	Mατ (Mat)
Hindi	R राजा (rājā) king	V वज़ीर (vazīr) vizier	H हाथी (hāthī) elephant	O ऊँट (ūṁṭ) camel	G घोड़ा (ghoṛā) horse	(P) प्यादा (pyādā) infantryman	शतरंज (Shatranj)	शाह (Shāh)	शाहमात (Shāhmāt)
Hebrew	מ מלך (Melech) king	מה מלכה (Malka) queen	צ צריח (Tzariach) tower	ר רץ (Ratz) runner	פ פרש (Parash) rider	רגלי (Regli) foot soldier	שחמט (Shakhmat)	שח (Shakh)	מט (Mat)
Hausa	S sarki king	Q sarauniya queen	R sansanin fortress	G giwa elephant	J jarumi mounted warrior	(P) soja soldier	ces	ceki	ceki mat
Hungarian	K király king	V vezér / királynő vizier / queen	B bástya bastion	F futó runner	H huszár / ló hussar / horse	(Gy) gyalog / paraszt footman / peasant	Sakk	Sakk	Matt
Icelandic	K kóngur king	D drottning queen	H hrókur rook	B biskup bishop	R riddari knight	(P) peð pawn	Skák	Skák	Skák og mát
Ido	R rejo king	D damo lady	T turmo tower	E episkopo bishop	K kavalo horse	(P) piono	Shakoludo	Shako	Shakmato
Indonesian	R raja king	M menteri minister / vizier	B benteng castle / fortress	G gajah elephant	K kuda horse	(P) pion	Catur	Sekak / Ster	Sekakmat
Interslavic	K kralj king	C carica / dama empress / lady	Z zamok / věža castle / tower	L lovec hunter	J jezdec / konj rider / horse	(P) pěšak infantryman	Šahy	Šah	Mat
Irish	R rí king	B banríon queen	C caiseal bulwark	E easpag bishop	D ridire knight	(F) fichillín / ceithearnach little chess piece / kern	Ficheall	Sáinn	Marbhsháinn
Italian	R re king	D donna / regina lady / queen	T torre tower	A alfiere standard-bearer	C cavallo horse	(P) pedone foot soldier	Scacchi	Scacco	Scacco matto
Japanese	K キング (kingu)	Q クイーン (kuīn)	R ルーク (rūku)	B ビショップ (bishoppu)	N ナイト (naito)	(P) ポーン (pōn)	チェス (chesu)	王手 (ōte) / チェック (chekku)	詰み (tsumi) / チェックメイト (chekkumeito)
Javanese	R raja king	Q ratu / perdhana mentri queen / prime minister	B bèntèng fortress	M mentri minister	K jaran horse	(P) pion	sekak
Kannada	ರಾ ರಾಜ (raaja) king	ಮ ಮಂತ್ರಿ (mantri) minister	ಆ ಆನೆ (aane) elephant	ರ ರಥ (ratha) chariot	ಕು ಕುದುರೆ (kudure) horse	ಪಾ ಪಾದಾತಿ (paadaati) foot sodier
Kazakh	Кр патша (patsha) king	У уәзір (wazir) vizier	Т тура (tura) tower	П піл (pil) elephant	А ат (at) horse	(П) пешка (peshka) / (С) сарбаз (sarbaz) foot soldier / warrior	шахмат (shakhmat)	шах (shakh)	мат (mat)
Korean	K 킹 (king)	Q 퀸 (kwin)	R 룩 (rug)	B 비숍 (bi syob)	N 나이트 (na i teu)	(P) 폰 (pon)	체스 (che seu)	체크 (che keu)	체크메이트 (che keu me i teu)
Latin	R rex king	M regina queen	T turris / elephas tower / elephant ^[3]	A signifer / cursor / stultus / alphinus standard-bearer / messenger / fool ^[3]	E eques knight	(P) pedes / pedo foot soldier	Scacci	Scaccus	Mattus
Latvian	K karalis king	D dāma lady	T tornis tower	L laidnis	Z zirgs horse	(B) bandinieks peasant	Šahs	Šahs	Šahs un mats
Lithuanian	K karalius king	V valdovė queen	B bokštas tower	R rikis Lithuanian military commander	Ž žirgas horse	(P) pėstininkas pawn	Šachmatai	Šach	Matas
Lojban	Na noltrunau king	Ni noltruni'u queen	S slanydi'u castle	X xanto elephant	Xi xirma horse	(S) sonci soldier	caxmati	gunta attack	lo nolraitru cu morsi the king is dead
Luxembourgish	K Kinnek king	D Damm lady	T Tuerm tower	L Leefer runner	P Päerd horse	(B) Bauer farmer	Schach	Schach	Schachmatt
Macedonian	K крал king	D кралица / дама queen / lady	T топ cannon	L ловец hunter	S коњ / скокач horse / jumper	P пешак / пион infantryman / pawn	шах	шах	мат
Malayalam	K രാജാവ് (rajavu) king	Q മന്ത്രി (manthri) minister	R തേര് (theru) chariot	B ആന (anaa) elephant	N/Kt കുതിര (kuthira) horse	(P) കാലാള്‍ / പടയാളി (kalal / padayali) foot soldier	ചതുരംഗം (chathurangam)	ചെക്ക്	ചെക്ക് മേറ്റ്
Marathi	R राजा (rājā) king	V वजीर (vajīr) vizier	H हत्ती (hātti) elephant	O उंट (Unṭ) camel	G घोडा (ghoḍā) horse	(P) प्यादे (pyāde) foot soldier	बुद्धिबळ (buddhibal)	शह (shāh)	शहमात (shāhmāt)
Mongolian	Н ноён noyan	Б бэрс (fers) vizier	т тэрэг (tereg) chariot	Т тэмээ (temee) camel	М морь (mor) rider	(Х) хүү (hüü) infantryman	Шатар	шаг / дуг / цод	мад
Norwegian Bokmål	K konge king	D dronning queen	T tårn tower	L løper runner	S springer jumper	(B) bonde peasant	Sjakk	Sjakk	Sjakkmatt
Norwegian Nynorsk	K konge king	D dronning queen	T tårn tower	L løpar runner	S springar jumper	(B) bonde peasant	Sjakk	Sjakk	Sjakkmatt
Persian	ش شاه king	و وزیر vizier / minister	ق/ر قلعه/رخ castle	ف فیل elephant	ا اسب horse	س سرباز soldier	شطرنج	کیش (kish)	مات (mat)
Polish	K król king	H hetman	W wieża tower	G goniec courier	S skoczek jumper	(P) pion pawn	szachy	szach	mat / szach-mat
Portuguese	R rei king	D dama / rainha lady / queen	T torre tower	B bispo bishop	C cavalo horse	(P) peão foot soldier	Xadrez	Xeque	Xeque-mate
Romanian	R rege king	D damă / regină lady / queen	T turn / tură tower	N nebun fool	C cal horse	(P) pion	Șah	Șah	Mat / Șah mat
Russian	Кр король (korol') king	Ф ферзь (ferz') vizier	Л ладья (ladya) boat	С слон (slon) elephant	К конь (kon') horse	(П) пешка (peshka)	шахматы (shakhmaty)	шах (shakh)	мат (mat)
Scottish Gaelic	R righ king	B bànrigh queen	T tùr tower	E easbaig bishop	D ridir knight	(P) pàn pawn	feòirne	casg	tul-chasg
Serbo-Croatian	К краљ (kralj) king	Д краљицa / дама (kraljica / dama) queen / lady	Т топ (top) cannon	Л ловац (lovac) hunter	С скaкaч / коњ (skakač / konj) jumper / horse	(П) пешак / пион (pešak / pion) pedestrian / pawn	Шах (Šah)	Шах (Šah)	Мат (Mat)
Northern Sotho	К Kgoši	Kg Kgošigadi	N Ntlosebô / Moshate	Mp Mopišopo	M Mogale	S Seitšhireletšo	Tšhêšê	Check	Checkmate
Sicilian	R re king	D riggina queen	T turru tower	A alferu	S scecc[h]u donkey	(P) pidinu foot soldier	Scacchi
Slovak	K kráľ king	D dáma lady	V veža tower	S strelec shooter	J jazdec horseman	(P) pešiak infantryman / pawn	Šach	Šach	Mat / Šachmat
Slovene	K kralj king	D dama lady	T trdnjava castle	L lovec hunter	S skakač jumper	(P) kmet farmer	Šah	Šah	Mat / Šahmat
Spanish	R rey king	D dama / reina lady / queen	T torre tower	A alfil	C caballo horse	(P) peón foot soldier	Ajedrez	Jaque	Jaque mate
Swedish	K kung king	D dam / drottning lady / queen	T torn tower	L löpare runner	S springare / häst horse	(B) bonde peasant	Schack	Schack	Schack matt
Tamil	K அரசன் (arasaṉ) king	Q அரசி (araci) queen	R கோட்டை (kōṭṭai) castle	B அமைச்சர் / மந்திரி (amaicchar / manthiri) minister	N/Kt குதிரை (kutirai) horse	(P) காலாள் / சிப்பாய் (kālāḷ / cippāy) foot soldier / sepoy	சதுரங்கம் (sathurankam)	முற்றுகை (muṟṟukai)	இறுதி முற்றுகை (iṟuti muṟṟukai)
Telugu	రాజు (rāju) king	మంత్రి (maṃtri) minister	ఏనుగు (ēnugu) elephant	శకటు (śakaţu)	గుర్రం (gurraṃ) horse	బంటు (baṃţu) soldier	చదరంగం (cadaraṃgaṃ)	దాడి (dāḍi)	కట్టు (kaţţu)
Thai	ข ขุน (khun) king	ต เม็ด / ตรี / มนตรี (met / trī / montrī) counselor	ร เรือ (reūa) ship	ค โคน (khōn)	ม ม้า (mā) horse	(บ) เบี้ย (bīa) menial	หมากรุก (mākruk)	รุก (ruk)	จน (jon)
Turkish	Ş/K şah / kral shah / king	V vezir vizier	K kale castle	F fil elephant	A at horse	(P) er / piyon soldier / pawn	Satranç	Şah	Mat
Ukrainian	Kр король (korol) king	Ф ферзь (ferz) vizier	T тура (tura) tower	C слон (slon) elephant	K кінь (kin) horse	(П) пішак / пішка (pishak / pishka) foot soldier	Шахи (shakhi)	Шах (shakh)	Мат (mat)
Urdu	بادشاہ‎ (bādshāh)	وزیر‎ (vazīr)	رخ‎ (rukh)	فيلہ‎ (fiyalah)	گھوڑا‎ (ghōṛā)	پیادہ‎ (pyādah)	شطرنج‎ (šaṭranj)	شہ‎ (sheh)	شہمات‎ (shehmāt)
Vietnamese	V vua king	H hậu queen	X xe chariot	T tượng statue	M mã horse	tốt soldier	Cờ vua	Chiếu	Chiếu bí / Chiếu hết / Hết cờ
Welsh	T teyrn / brenin lord / king	B brenhines queen	C castell castle	E esgob bishop	M marchog rider	(G) gwerinwr peasant	Gwyddbwyll	Siach	Siachmat

(Luiro 2009)

Notes [edit]

^ The Estonian chess terms were coined by Ado Grenzstein.
^ "Handbook". www.fide.com . Retrieved 22 March 2019. The pieces bear the names: Koenig, Dame, Turm, Laeufer, Springer, Bauer
^ ^a ^b H. J. R. Murray, A History of Chess, ch. 11

References [edit]

Brace, Edward (1977), An Illustrated Dictionary of Chess, Craftwell, ISBN1-55521-394-4
Burgess, Graham (2009), The Mammoth Book of Chess (3rd ed.), Running Press, ISBN978-0-7624-3726-9
Evans, Larry (1973), Evans on Chess, Cornerstone Library, ISBN0-87749-699-4
Hooper, David; Whyld, Kenneth (1992), "Value of pieces", The Oxford Companion to Chess (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press, ISBN0-19-280049-3
Just, Tim; Burg, Daniel S. (2003), U.S. Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess (5th ed.), McKay, ISBN0-8129-3559-4
Soltis, Andrew (2004), Rethinking the Chess Pieces, Batsford, ISBN0-7134-8904-9
Luiro, Ari (2009), Chess pieces in different languages, archived from the original on October 21, 2009, retrieved 2011-11-04

External links [edit]

FIDE on chess equipment
History of Staunton Chess Pieces
Chess pieces in different languages
Online "Chess Museum" with many historic examples
How chess pieces are made and constructed
DIY: How to make a wooden chess pieces [sic]