Chess pieces: the 6 pieces and their value

In chess there are 6 types of pieces: the king, the queen, the rook, the bishop, the knight and the pawn. Click on any of them to see how it moves step by step.

Each one is worth a number of points that tells you how valuable it is. The queen is worth 9 points, so whoever gives it up loses far more than whoever loses a pawn (worth 1). And the king? The king is never captured: if it’s in danger, you have to put it somewhere safe no matter what, and if you can’t, you lose the game. Also remember a basic rule: White always moves first.

How much is each chess piece worth?

This table summarizes each piece, its symbol, its notation (the letter used to write it in games) and its value in points. Click on the name to open its guide:

These values are approximate: they help you decide whether a trade suits you, but the position has the final say. Sometimes a well-placed knight is worth more than a trapped rook. You have all the details and practical examples in The value of the pieces.

Color of chess pieces

White and Black have the same forces. Each has a king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights and eight pawns. Each side therefore has 16 pieces. Pieces stay on the board until they’re captured, one piece per square, never two pieces on the same square.

What do chess pieces look like?

Chess pieces are usually carved from wood. The King looks like a crowned monarch, the Queen wears a smaller crown, the Rooks suggest strong castles, the Bishops have a characteristic headpiece, the Knights represent their name, and the Pawn looks like an ordinary soldier.

Chess piece sizes

PIECES FOR STUDY OR ANALYSIS

These are the typical pieces whose king height is 3.5″ (8.5 cm) or less. They’re very easy to store and can be carried around without much trouble. This king height is ideal for chess students or for simply analyzing moves. This size is ideal for quick games during trips or in leisure spots like the beach or a park.

CHAMPIONSHIP CHESS PIECES

These are pieces with a king height between 3.6″ and 4″ (8.5 cm to 10 cm). They’re acceptable for championships, chess clubs and casual games. They have a size that makes them ideal for individual games, which is why they’re the most common pieces on the market.

CLUB CHESS PIECES

The king is about 4.3″–4.4″ (11 cm to 11.5 cm) tall. The term comes from early 19th-century chess piece designers, who introduced the term “Club” as a mark of prestige. Remember that chess clubs, at that time, were places where the social elite gathered, and their pieces had to stand out from the ones commonly used by less well-off chess enthusiasts. These pieces are highly sought after by collectors because they’re a perfect blend of beauty and functionality.

DECORATIVE CHESS PIECES

While playing with large pieces always brings inexpressible pleasure, pieces with a king height over 12 cm fall into our decorative pieces category. They’re typically used to play in private homes. They’re in high demand for the great decorative impression they make.

Want to know how big a chess board should be? Click here.

How to set up chess pieces on the board?

At the start of the game, the pieces are placed in a specific position shown below, and then they move, with players alternating turns. A battle of chess pieces thus takes place according to specific rules, until the king is checkmated.

How to move chess pieces?

Moving pieces means transferring a piece from one square to another. White “moves” a white piece, Black a black one. Sometimes two pieces are moved at once, for example during captures, castling or pawn promotion. All of this is carried out according to the rules of chess that the player is required to follow.

And to keep learning from scratch, here’s some key content:

• How all the pieces move
• How to set up the board
• Rules of chess
• When to trade pieces and when not to — favorable exchanges
• Free chess course