1. Meet your pieces

What you will learn

1. 01

   The rook: straight lines

   First steps · 3 min

   A rook moves along rows or columns through any number of empty squares. It cannot jump pieces. Edge letters name columns and numbers name rows: d1 means column d, row 1.

2. 02

   The bishop: diagonals

   First steps · 3 min

   A bishop travels diagonally and stays on the same square colour. It cannot jump either.

3. 03

   The queen: lines and diagonals

   First steps · 3 min

   The queen combines rook and bishop movement. It travels along straight lines or diagonals without jumping.

4. 04

   The knight can jump

   First steps · 3 min

   A knight makes an L: two squares in one direction, then one sideways. It can jump over other pieces.

5. 05

   The king: one safe step

   First steps · 3 min

   A king moves one square in any direction. It cannot move into attack or next to the opposing king. Chess aims for checkmate, not capturing the king.

6. 06

   The pawn moves forward

   First steps · 3 min

   White pawns advance towards row 8; Black pawns towards row 1. Move one empty square, or two from the starting square if both are empty. Pawns never move backwards.