# Chess piece

A chess piece, or chessman, is a game piece that is placed on a chessboard to play the game of chess. It can be either white or black, and it can be one of six types: king, queen, rook, bishop, knight, or pawn.
Chess sets generally come with sixteen pieces of each color. Additional pieces, usually an extra queen per color, may be provided for use in promotion or handicap games.

## Number

Each player begins with 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 controls them as "White", whereas the darker colored pieces are referred to as "black" and the player that controls them as "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

## Definitions

The word "piece" has three meanings, depending on the context.
* It may mean any of the physical pieces of the set, including the pawns. When used this way, "piece" is synonymous with "chessman" or simply "man". 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.
* 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".

## Moves

| | 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 | |
The rules of chess prescribe the moves each type of chess piece can make. During play, the players take turns moving their own chess pieces.
* The rook may move any number of squares vertically or horizontally without jumping. It also takes part, along with the king, in castling.
* The bishop may move any number of squares diagonally without jumping. Consequently, a bishop stays on squares of the same color throughout the game.
* The queen may move any number of squares vertically, horizontally, or diagonally without jumping.
* The king may move to any adjoining square. No move may be made such that the king is placed or left in check. The king may participate in castling, which is a move consisting of the king moving two squares toward a same-colored rook on the same rank and the rook moving to the square crossed by the king. Castling may only be performed if the king and rook involved are unmoved, 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.
* The knight moves from one corner of any two-by-three rectangle to the opposite corner. (This can be thought of as moving two squares horizontally then one square vertically, or moving one square horizontally then two squares vertically—i.e. in an "L" pattern.) Consequently, the knight alternates its square color each time it moves. It is not obstructed by other pieces.
* The pawn may move forward one square, and one or 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, 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"), wherein it captures a horizontally adjacent enemy pawn that has just advanced two squares as if that pawn had only advanced one square. 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 of the same color.
Pieces other than pawns capture in the same way that they move. 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.

## Relative value

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. For example, in an open game, bishops are relatively more valuable; they can be positioned to control long, open diagonal spaces. In a closed game with lines of protected pawns blocking bishops, knights usually become relatively more potent. 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. These values are reliable in endgames, particularly with a limited number of pieces. But these values can change 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. In specific circumstances, the values may be quite different: sometimes a knight can be more valuable than a queen if a particular angle is required for a mating attack, such as certain smothered mates. The humble pawn becomes more and more valuable the closer it is to securing a queen promotion for another example.

## History

Chess evolved over time from its earliest versions in India and Persia to variants that spread both West and East. Pieces changed names and rules as well; the most notable changes was the Vizir (or Firz) becoming the Queen, and the Elephant becoming the Bishop in European versions of chess. The movement patterns for Queens and Bishops also changed, with the earliest rules restricting elephants to just two squares along a diagonal, but allowing them to "jump" (seen in the fairy chess piece the alfil); and the earliest versions of queens could only move a single square diagonally (the fairy chess piece Ferz). The modern bishop's movement was popularized in the 14th and 15th centuries, and the modern queen was popularized in the 15th and 16th centuries, with versions with the more powerful modern queen eclipsing older variants.
* Sample Medieval chess pieces
* A pawn of quartz from 10th–11th century (Fatimid Egypt?). Islamic chess sets favored abstract designs.
* A knight made around 1250 in London, England. The knight is battling a dragon.
* An elephant from the 11th–12th century Islamic Western Mediterranean (possibly Nasrid Granada?). It bears similarities to a Bishop's miter, perhaps explaining the eventual terminology shift.
* A 12th century warder (modern rook) made of whale ivory of Scandinavian origin, similar to the famous Lewis chessmen.
* A 13th century Queen astride a horse with attendants, of Scandinavian origin. The Queen replaced the Persian Vizier in European chess.
* An 8th–10th century King (Shah) carved of jet. In the Islamic style, it is an abstract representation, decorated with dot-and-circle devices.

## Names

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" in language areas that adapted the modern bishop's movement pattern, but not its new name.
Overview of chess piece names :
| 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 boat | 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 tsar | Д дама / царица lady / tsaritsa | Т топ cannon | О офицер officer | К кон horse | (П) пешка foot soldier | 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 / koningin 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 | 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 |
| Galician | R rei king | D dama / raíña lady / queen | T torre tower | B bispo bishop | C cabalo horse | (P) peón foot soldier | Xadrez | Xaque | Xaque mate |
| 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 | K König king | D Dame lady / queen | T Turm tower | L Läufer runner | S Springer jumper | (B) Bauer peasant / farmer | 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) / Ρουά (Rouá) | Mατ (Mat) |
| Hindi | R राजा (rājā) king | V वज़ीर / रानी (vazīr / rānī) vizier / queen | H हाथी (hāthī) elephant | O ऊँट (ūṁṭ) camel | G घोड़ा (ghoṛā) horse | (P) प्यादा (pyādā) infantryman | शतरंज (śatrañj) | शह (Shah) | शहमात (Shahmāt) |
| Hebrew | מ מלך (Melech) king | מה מלכה (Malka) queen | צ צריח (Tzariach) tower | ר רץ (Ratz) runner | פ פרש (Parash) horseman | 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 leader / queen | B bástya bastion | F futó runner | H huszár / ló hussar / horse | (Gy) gyalog / paraszt footman / peasant | Sakk | Sakk | Matt / 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 ಪದಾತಿ (padaati) foot soldier | ಚದುರಂಗ (caduraṅga) | | |
| Kazakh | Кр патша (patşa) king | У уәзір (uäzır) vizier | Т тура (tura) tower | П піл (pıl) elephant | А ат (at) horse | (П) пешка (peşka) / (С) сарбаз (sarbaz) foot soldier / warrior | шахмат (şahmat) | шах (şah) | 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 | A signifer / cursor / stultus / alphinus standard-bearer / messenger / fool | 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 |
| 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 (raajavu) king | Q മന്ത്രി (manthri) minister | R തേര് (therú) chariot | B ആന (aana) elephant | N/Kt കുതിര (kuthira) horse | (P) കാലാള്‍ / പടയാളി (kaalal / padayaali) 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 (shah) | शहमात (shahmāt) |
| Mongolian | Н ноён noyan | Б бэрс (fers) vizier | т тэрэг (tereg) chariot | Т тэмээ (temee) camel | М морь (mor) horse | (Х) хүү (hüü) boy | 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 |
| Odia | K ରଜା (rôja) king | Q ରାଣୀ (raṇi) queen | R ଡଙ୍ଗା (ḍôṅga) boat | B ହାତୀ (hati) elephant | N ଘୋଡ଼ା (ghoṛa) horse | P ସୈନିକ (sôinikô) soldier | ଚେସ୍/ଶତରଞ୍ଜ (chess/śôtôrôñjô) | ଚେକ୍ (check) | ଚେକମେଟ୍ (checkmate) |
| Oromo | M Mootii | Mt Mootittii | G Gidaara, masaraa | A abuunii | N namkabajaa | Cheezii | Mirkaneeffannaa | Waayila / Mate |
| Persian | ش شاه king | و وزیر vizier / minister | ق/ر قلعه/رخ castle | ف فیل elephant | ا اسب horse | س/پ سرباز/پیاده soldier | شطرنج (shatranj) | کیش (kish) | مات (mat) |
| Polish | K król king | H hetman / królowa general (hist.) / queen | W wieża tower | G goniec / laufer courier / (ger. derived) | S skoczek / koń jumper / horse | (P) pion / pionek 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 / королева (ferz' / koroleva) vizier / queen | 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 | K kralj (К краљ) king | D kraljica / dama (Д краљицa / дама) queen / lady | T top / kula (Т топ / кула) cannon / tower | L lovac / strijelac / laufer (Л ловац / стрелац / лауфер) hunter / archer / runner | S skakač / konj (С скaкaч / коњ) jumper / horse | (P) pješak / pion / pijun ((П) пешак / пион / пијун) footman / pawn | Šah (Шах) | Šah (Шах) | Mat (Мат) |
| Northern Sotho | K 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 rider | (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 | H springare / riddare horse/knight | (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 / tri / montri) counselor | ร เรือ (ruea) ship | ค โคน (khon) | ม ม้า (ma) horse | (บ) เบี้ย (bia) menial | หมากรุก (makruk) | รุก (ruk) | จน (chon) |
| 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 / tịnh / voi statue / elephant | M mã / ngựa horse | tốt / chốt / binh soldier | Cờ vua | Chiếu / Chiếu tướng | Chiếu bí / Chiếu hết / Sát cục / Tuyệt sát |
| Welsh | T teyrn / brenin lord / king | B brenhines queen | C castell castle | E esgob bishop | M marchog rider | (G) gwerinwr peasant | Gwyddbwyll | Siach | Siachmat |

## Variants

Chess variants sometimes include new, non-standard, or even old pieces. For example, Courier Chess, a predecessor of modern chess dating from the 12th century, was played on an 8×12 board and used all six modern chess piece types, plus three additional types of pieces: Courier, Mann (or rath or sage), and Jester. Variants of "old" chess might use the old rules for bishops/elephants with the alfil piece, or old rules for Queens with the ferz. Many modern variants with unorthodox pieces exist, such as Berolina chess which uses custom pawns that advance diagonally and capture vertically.