How to Use Chess Pieces

If you want a challenging game that depends on strategy, then it's time you were introduced to the two-player game of chess. Players start a chess game with sixteen pieces in black or white. Action takes place on a checkered 64-square chessboard.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Recognize that the tallest piece is also the most important, the King. The object of chess is to capture the opposing player's King. The other pieces protect the King, since it can only move one square at a time.

2. Move the powerful Queen horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Although the Queen can't jump a player, this chess piece contains more movement options than the other pieces.

3. Find two Rooks that start in the corners of the back row for each player. Also referred to as a Castle, the Rook can move horizontally or vertically until it meets an occupied square.

4. Find the piece that looks like a horse's head. This is the Knight, the only piece capable of jumping over other chess pieces. The Knight has the most complicated move options. It travels travel three squares in two directions at a time, in an L-shape. Move the Knight one or two squares forward or sideways, and then two or one squares sideways or forward.

5. Watch the Bishop move diagonally across the board. The Bishop piece is usually symbolized by a bishop's miter, or cone-shaped hat. Each player starts the game with two Bishops that stand on either side of the King and Queen.

6. Know that the eight smallest pieces at the front line, called the Pawns, can move two squares forward only on their first move. Afterwards, they can only move forward one square at a time. A Pawn captures another piece with a diagonal forward move one space.

Tips & Warnings

• The white pieces always start the game.