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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.

Original Staunton chess pieces
Left to right: pawn, rook, knight, bishop, queen, king

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.

Number edit

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:

Definitions edit

The word "piece" has three meanings, depending on the context.[1]

  1. 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".[2][3] 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.
  2. 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.[4]
  3. 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".[5]

Moves edit

abcdefgh
8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Chess starting position. Squares are referenced using algebraic notation.

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. 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.[6]

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.[7]

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. 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.[8] 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.[9] 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 edit

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.

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" in language areas that adapted the modern bishop's movement pattern, but not its new name.[10]

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 царица / дама
empress / lady
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 (wáng)
king
Q (hòu)
queen
R (jū)
chariot
B (xiàng)
elephant
N (mǎ)
horse
(P) (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[11] 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
ლაზიერი (lazieri)
queen
ეტლი (etli)
chariot
კუ (ku)
tortoise
მხედარი (mkhedari)
rider
პაიკი (paiki)
pawn
ჭადრაკი (Čadraki) ქიში (K'ishi) შამათი (Shamat'i)
German[12] 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
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
ಮಂತ್ರಿ (mantri)
minister
ಆನೆ (aane)
elephant
ರಥ (ratha)
chariot
ಕು ಕುದುರೆ (kudure)
horse
ಪಾ ಪದಾತಿ (padaati)
foot soldier
ಚದುರಂಗ (caduraṅga)
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[13]
A signifer / cursor / stultus / alphinus
standard-bearer / messenger / fool[13]
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 (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 królowa / hetman
queen / general (hist.)
W wieża
tower
G goniec / laufer
courier / (ger. derived)
S koń / skoczek
horse / jumper
(P) pionek / 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 / 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 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
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 ขุน (khun)
king
เม็ด / ตรี / มนตรี (met / tri / montri)
counselor
เรือ (ruea)
ship
โคน (khon)
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 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
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 edit

 
A 1616 illustration of the Mann, a chess piece unique to the Courier Chess variant; the Mann moves like a King, but threatening it does not give check, and it can be captured without loss of the game.

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.

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ (Burgess 2009:523)(Hooper & Whyld 1992:307)
  2. ^ (Hooper & Whyld 1992:307)
  3. ^ (Hooper & Whyld 1992:200)
  4. ^ (Brace 1977:220)
  5. ^ (Just & Burg 2003:5)
  6. ^ (Just & Burg 2003:13–16)
  7. ^ (Just & Burg 2003:13–16)
  8. ^ (Hooper & Whyld 1992:438–39)
  9. ^ (Soltis 2004:183)
  10. ^ (Luiro 2009)
  11. ^ The Estonian chess terms were coined by Ado Grenzstein.
  12. ^ "Handbook". www.fide.com. Retrieved 22 March 2019. The pieces bear the names: Koenig, Dame, Turm, Laeufer, Springer, Bauer
  13. ^ a b H. J. R. Murray, A History of Chess, ch. 11.

References edit

External links edit

  • FIDE on chess equipment

chess, piece, other, uses, disambiguation, chess, piece, chessman, game, piece, that, placed, chessboard, play, game, chess, either, white, black, types, king, queen, rook, bishop, knight, pawn, original, staunton, chess, pieces, left, right, pawn, rook, knigh. For other uses see Chess piece disambiguation 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 Original Staunton chess pieces Left to right pawn rook knight bishop queen kingChess sets generally come with sixteen pieces of each color Additional pieces usually an extra queen per color may be provided for use in promotion Contents 1 Number 2 Definitions 3 Moves 4 Relative value 5 History 6 Names 7 Variants 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 11 External linksNumber editChess pieces nbsp nbsp King nbsp nbsp Queen nbsp nbsp Rook nbsp nbsp Bishop nbsp nbsp Knight nbsp nbsp PawnEach 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 pawnsDefinitions editThe word piece has three meanings depending on the context 1 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 2 3 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 4 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 5 Moves editMain article Rules of chess abcdefgh8 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 877665544332211abcdefghChess starting position Squares are referenced using algebraic notation 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 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 6 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 7 Relative value editMain article Chess 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 8 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 9 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 editSee also History of chess 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 nbsp A pawn of quartz from 10th 11th century Fatimid Egypt Islamic chess sets favored abstract designs nbsp A knight made around 1250 in London England The knight is battling an evil dragon nbsp 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 nbsp A 12th century warder modern rook made of whale ivory of Scandinavian origin similar to the famous Lewis chessmen nbsp A 13th century Queen astride a horse with attendants of Scandinavian origin The Queen replaced the Persian Vizier in European chess nbsp 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 edit nbsp Look up Appendix Chess pieces in Wiktionary the free dictionary 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 10 Overview of chess piece names Language King Queen Rook Bishop Knight Pawn Chess Check Checkmate Matefigure 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 SkaakmatAlbanian M Mbreti king D Dama Mbreteresha lady queen T Torra tower F Fili Oficeri elephant officer K Kali horse U Ushtari soldier Shahu Shah Shah matArabic م م ل ك malik king و وزير wazir vizier ر رخ طابية rukhkh ṭabiya fortress castle ف فيل fil elephant ح حصان ħiṣan horse ب بيدق عسكري baidaq askari pawn soldier شطرنج shaṭranj ك ش م ل ك kish malik ك ش مات kish mat Azerbaijani S Sah shah V Vezir vizier T Top cannon F Fil elephant A At horse P Piyada foot soldier Sahmat sahshah matmatArmenian Ա Արքա Ark a king Թ Թագուհի T agowhi queen Ն Նավակ Navak ship Փ Փիղ P il elephant Ձ Ձի Dzi horse Զ Զինվոր Zinvor soldier Շախմատ Saxmat Ճատրակ Catrak Շախ Sax Մատ Mat Basque E Erregea king D Dama lady G Gaztelua castle A Alfila Z Zalduna knight P Peoia pawn Xake Xake Xake mateBelarusian Taraskievica K karol king Vz vizyr vizier Ld ladzdzya boat A aficer officer V vershnik rider L latnik pawn Shahmaty Shah MatBengali R র জ raja King M মন ত র montri Minister N ন ক nouka Boat H গজ হ ত goj hati Elephant G ঘ ড় ghoṛa Horse B ব ড় স ন য boṛe soinno Walker Troop দ ব daba ক স ত kisti Check ক স ত ম ত kistimat CheckmateBulgarian C car tsar D carica dama empress lady T top cannon O oficer officer K kon horse P peshka foot soldier Shahmat Shah Shah Shah i matCatalan R rei D dama reina lady queen T torre tower A alfil C cavall horse P peo Escacs Escac Xec Escac i matChinese K 王 wang king Q 后 hou queen R 車 ju chariot B 象 xiang elephant N 馬 mǎ horse P 兵 bing soldier 國際象棋 guoji xiangqi international chess 將軍 jiangjun 將死 jiang sǐ Czech K kral king D dama lady V vez tower S strelec shooter J jezdec rider P pesec foot soldier Sachy Sach MatDanish K konge king D dronning queen T tarn tower L lober runner S springer jumper B bonde peasant Skak Skak SkakmatDutch 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 SchaakmatEnglish K king Q queen R rook castle B bishop N knight P pawn Chess Check Checkmate MateEsperanto R reĝo king D damo lady T turo tower K kuriero courier Ĉ ĉevalo horse P peono Ŝako Ŝak ŜakmatoEstonian 11 K kuningas king L lipp flag V vanker chariot carriage O oda spear R ratsu riding horse E ettur forwarder Male after malev Tuli Sahh fire MattFinnish K kuningas king D daami kuningatar lady queen T torni tower L lahetti messenger R ratsu ride S sotilas soldier Shakki Shakki Matti ShakkimattiFrench R roi king D dame lady T tour tower F fou jester C cavalier rider P pion Echecs Echec Echec et matGalician R rei king D dama raina lady queen T torre tower B bispo bishop C cabalo horse P peon foot soldier Xadrez Xaque Xaque mateGeorgian 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 Cadraki ქიში K ishi შამათი Shamat i German 12 K Konig king D Dame lady queen T Turm tower L Laufer runner S Springer jumper B Bauer peasant farmer Schach Schach Matt SchachmattGreek R basilias vasilias king B basilissa vasilissa queen P pyrgos pyrgos tower A a3iwmatikos axiomatikos officer I ippos ippos horse S pioni pioni pawn Skaki Skaki Sax Sach Roya Roua Mat Mat Hindi R र ज raja king V वज़ र र न vazir rani vizier queen H ह थ hathi elephant O ऊ ट uṁṭ camel G घ ड़ ghoṛa horse P प य द pyada infantryman शतर ज satranj शह Shah शहम त Shahmat 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 matHungarian K kiraly king V vezer kiralyno leader queen B bastya bastion F futo runner H huszar lo hussar horse Gy gyalog paraszt footman peasant Sakk Sakk Matt Sakk mattIcelandic K kongur king D drottning queen H hrokur rook B biskup bishop R riddari knight P ped pawn Skak Skak Skak og matIdo R rejo king D damo lady T turmo tower E episkopo bishop K kavalo horse P piono Shakoludo Shako ShakmatoIndonesian R raja king M menteri minister vizier B benteng castle fortress G gajah elephant K kuda horse P pion Catur Sekak Ster SekakmatInterslavic K kralj king C carica dama empress lady Z zamok veza castle tower L lovec hunter J jezdec konj rider horse P pesak infantryman Sahy Sah MatIrish R ri king B banrion queen C caiseal bulwark E easpag bishop D ridire knight F fichillin ceithearnach little chess piece kern Ficheall Sainn MarbhshainnItalian 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 mattoJapanese K キング kingu Q クイーン kuin R ルーク ruku 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 benteng fortress M mentri minister K jaran horse P pion sekakKannada ರ ರ ಜ raaja king ಮ ಮ ತ ರ mantri minister ಆ ಆನ aane elephant ರ ರಥ ratha chariot ಕ ಕ ದ ರ kudure horse ಪ ಪದ ತ padaati foot soldier ಚದ ರ ಗ caduraṅga Kazakh Kr patsha patsha king U uәzir wazir vizier T tura tura tower P pil pil elephant A at at horse P peshka peshka S sarbaz sarbaz foot soldier warrior shahmat shakhmat shah shakh mat 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 13 A signifer cursor stultus alphinus standard bearer messenger fool 13 E eques knight P pedes pedo foot soldier Scacci Scaccus MattusLatvian K karalis king D dama lady T tornis tower L laidnis Z zirgs horse B bandinieks peasant Sahs Sahs Sahs un matsLithuanian K karalius king V valdove queen B bokstas tower R rikis Lithuanian military commander Z zirgas horse P pestininkas pawn Sachmatai Sach MatasLojban 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 deadLuxembourgish K Kinnek king D Damm lady T Tuerm tower L Leefer runner P Paerd horse B Bauer farmer Schach Schach SchachmattMacedonian K kral king D kralica dama queen lady T top cannon L lovec hunter S koњ skokach horse jumper P peshak pion infantryman pawn shah shah matMalayalam K ര ജ വ raajavu king Q മന ത ര manthri minister R ത ര theru chariot B ആന aana elephant N Kt ക ത ര kuthira horse P ക ല ള പടയ ള kaalal padayaali foot soldier ചത ര ഗ chathurangam ച ക ക ച ക ക മ റ റ Marathi R र ज raja king V वज र vajir vizier H हत त hatti elephant O उ ट Unṭ camel G घ ड ghoḍa horse P प य द pyade foot soldier ब द ध बळ buddhibal शह shah शहम त shahmat Mongolian N noyon noyan B bers fers vizier t tereg tereg chariot T temee temee camel M mor mor horse H hүү huu boy Shatar shag dug cod madNorwegian Bokmal K konge king D dronning queen T tarn tower L loper runner S springer jumper B bonde peasant Sjakk Sjakk SjakkmattNorwegian Nynorsk K konge king D dronning queen T tarn tower L lopar runner S springar jumper B bonde peasant Sjakk Sjakk SjakkmattOdia K ରଜ roja king Q ର ଣ raṇi queen R ଡଙ ଗ ḍoṅga boat B ହ ତ hati elephant N ଘ ଡ଼ ghoṛa horse P ସ ନ କ soiniko soldier ଚ ସ ଶତରଞ ଜ chess sotoronjo ଚ କ check ଚ କମ ଟ checkmate Oromo M Mootii Mt Mootittii G Gidaara masaraa A abuunii N namkabajaa Cheezii Mirkaneeffannaa Waayila MatePersian 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 krol king H krolowa hetman queen general hist W wieza tower G goniec laufer courier ger derived S kon skoczek horse jumper P pionek pion pawn Szachy szach mat szach matPortuguese R rei king D dama rainha lady queen T torre tower B bispo bishop C cavalo horse P peao foot soldier Xadrez Xeque Xeque mateRomanian R rege king D damă regină lady queen T turn tură tower N nebun fool C cal horse P pion Șah Șah Mat Șah matRussian Kr korol korol king F ferz koroleva ferz koroleva vizier queen L ladya ladya boat S slon slon elephant K kon kon horse P peshka peshka shahmaty shakhmaty shah shakh mat mat Scottish Gaelic R righ king B banrigh queen T tur tower E easbaig bishop D ridir knight P pan pawn feoirne casg tul chasgSerbo Croatian K kralj K kraљ king D kraljica dama D kraљica dama queen lady T top kula T top kula cannon tower L lovac strijelac laufer L lovac strelac laufer hunter archer runner S skakac konj S skakach koњ jumper horse P pjesak pion pijun P peshak pion piјun footman pawn Sah Shah Sah Shah Mat Mat Northern Sotho K Kgosi Kg Kgosigadi N Ntlosebo Moshate Mp Mopisopo M Mogale S Seitshireletso Tshese Check CheckmateSicilian R re king D riggina queen T turru tower A alferu S scecc h u donkey P pidinu foot soldier ScacchiSlovak K kraľ king D dama lady V veza tower S strelec shooter J jazdec rider P pesiak infantryman pawn Sach Sach Mat SachmatSlovene K kralj king D dama lady T trdnjava castle L lovec hunter S skakac jumper P kmet farmer Sah Sah Mat SahmatSpanish R rey king D dama reina lady queen T torre tower A alfil C caballo horse P peon foot soldier Ajedrez Jaque Jaque mateSwedish K kung king D dam drottning lady queen T torn tower L lopare runner H springare riddare horse knight B bonde peasant Schack Schack Schack mattTamil K அரசன arasaṉ king Q அரச araci queen R க ட ட kōṭṭai castle B அம ச சர மந த ர amaicchar manthiri minister N Kt க த ர kutirai horse P க ல ள ச ப ப ய kalaḷ cippay foot soldier sepoy சத ரங கம sathurankam ம ற ற க muṟṟukai இற த ம ற ற க iṟuti muṟṟukai Telugu ర జ raju king మ త ర maṃtri minister ఏన గ enugu elephant శకట sakaţu గ ర ర gurraṃ horse బ ట baṃţu soldier చదర గ cadaraṃgaṃ ద డ daḍi కట ట kaţţu Thai kh khun khun king t emd tri mntri met tri montri counselor r erux ruea ship kh okhn khon m ma ma horse b ebiy bia menial hmakruk makruk ruk ruk cn chon Turkish S K sah kral shah king V vezir vizier K kale castle F fil elephant A at horse P er piyon soldier pawn Satranc Sah MatUkrainian Kr korol korol king F ferz ferz vizier T tura tura tower C slon slon elephant K kin kin horse P pishak pishka pishak pishka foot soldier Shahi shakhi Shah shakh Mat mat Urdu بادشاہ badshah وزیر vazir رخ rukh فيلہ fiyalah گھوڑا ghōṛa پیادہ pyadah شطرنج saṭranj شہ sheh شہمات shehmat Vietnamese V vua king H hậu queen X xe chariot T tượng tịnh voi elephant M ma ngựa horse tốt chốt binh soldier Cờ vua Chiếu Chiếu tướng Chiếu bi Chiếu hết Sat cục Tuyệt satWelsh T teyrn brenin lord king B brenhines queen C castell castle E esgob bishop M marchog rider G gwerinwr peasant Gwyddbwyll Siach SiachmatVariants editMain article Fairy chess piece nbsp A 1616 illustration of the Mann a chess piece unique to the Courier Chess variant the Mann moves like a King but threatening it does not give check and it can be captured without loss of the game 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 See also edit nbsp Chess portalChess set Chessboard Chess piece relative value Chess symbols in Unicode Fairy chess piece a piece used only in chess variants History of chess Lewis chessmen Outline of chess Rules of chess Staunton chess setNotes edit Burgess 2009 523 Hooper amp Whyld 1992 307 Hooper amp Whyld 1992 307 Hooper amp Whyld 1992 200 Brace 1977 220 Just amp Burg 2003 5 Just amp Burg 2003 13 16 Just amp Burg 2003 13 16 Hooper amp Whyld 1992 438 39 Soltis 2004 183 Luiro 2009 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 editBrace Edward 1977 An Illustrated Dictionary of Chess Craftwell ISBN 1 55521 394 4 Burgess Graham 2009 The Mammoth Book of Chess 3rd ed Running Press ISBN 978 0 7624 3726 9 Evans Larry 1973 Evans on Chess Cornerstone Library ISBN 0 87749 699 4 Hooper David Whyld Kenneth 1992 Value of pieces The Oxford Companion to Chess 2nd ed Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 280049 3 Just Tim Burg Daniel S 2003 U S Chess Federation s Official Rules of Chess 5th ed McKay ISBN 0 8129 3559 4 Soltis Andrew 2004 Rethinking the Chess Pieces Batsford ISBN 0 7134 8904 9 Luiro Ari 2009 Chess pieces in different languages archived from the original on October 21 2009 retrieved 2011 11 04External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chess pieces FIDE on chess equipment Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chess piece amp oldid 1182282333, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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