A standard chessboard with 32 pieces arranged in their starting position.

How the pieces move

Players move one piece at a time, taking turns, with White always moving first. Pieces capture by moving to a square occupied by an opposing piece and removing it from the board. Kings may never move into check.

King: moves one square in any direction (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally). The king cannot move into check and cannot stand on an adjacent square to the opposing king.

Queen: moves any number of squares along a rank, file, or diagonal. It may not jump over other pieces.

Rook: moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically, without jumping. Rooks are also involved in the special castling move with the king.

Bishop: moves any number of squares diagonally. Each bishop always remains on the same colour of square it starts on.

Knight: moves in an “L” shape: two squares in one direction and then one square perpendicular to that, or vice versa. Knights can jump over any pieces that stand between their starting and ending squares.

Pawn: normally moves one square straight forward without capturing. On its very first move it may advance two squares, if both squares are empty. Pawns capture diagonally forward one square and never move or capture backwards.