Every chess piece has a unique way to move on the board, but some pieces are similar. Diagonal moves are surprisingly common in the game of chess, since the majority of pieces can move in this manner. There are four chess pieces that are allowed to move diagonally: the bishop, king, queen, and pawn (when … Read more
While some might view the pawn as a weak chess piece, pawns are fully capable of attacking and taking other pieces. However, that is not the case for a king, because of an exception regarding the most important piece on the board. Chess rules do not allow a pawn to take a king. No piece … Read more
Once you know how a king moves in chess, it’s time to learn about how a king attacks other pieces. It’s not very complicated and quite similar to its movements on the board. The rules of chess allow a king to attack in any direction (horizontal, diagonal, or vertical). Since a king is allowed to … Read more
Pawns may seem weak compared to a king or queen, but the ability to promote into another piece makes them surprisingly strong. Helping your pawns reach the other side of the board can pay off quickly in a chess game. A pawn is not allowed to promote to a king, because having two kings would … Read more
Sacrificing chess pieces can be a sound strategy, as long as it helps a player win. But giving up a king is different: it is the most important piece among the chessmen. That’s exactly why the rules make it impossible for a player to forfeit their king during a game. The rules of chess state … Read more
The king can have many different appearances depending on the chess set you are using. The king’s piece can look like he is wearing a cross, ball, plume, French lily, or crown on top of his head. In modern chess sets, the king (♔, ♚) looks like a tall, royal figure with a cross on … Read more
After learning the starting position of the king on the chess board, the next step is understanding his movements. If you’re a beginner, learning how the chess pieces move is essential to gain a better understanding of the game. The rules of chess state that a king is allowed to move one square in every … Read more
When a queen wants to capture a king, immediate danger looms on the chess board. With the most important piece under a checkmate threat, the king in check must defend itself at all costs. A king can take a queen in chess, but only if the opponent’s queen is not protected. The rules of chess … Read more
After a king has come out of check, the immediate danger has subsided. As long as the king is in its original starting position, a castle move is around the corner. For this, your supporting pieces must help out the king, by removing the threat by the opponent immediately. The rules of chess allow the … Read more
Symbolism and storytelling are firmly rooted in historic games like chess. There is a deeper meaning behind every piece in chess, and the king probably has the most interesting story of them all. In the game of chess, the king symbolizes leadership. A king represents the most influential and important class of society. The meaning … Read more
