Chess piece

Game piece for playing chess

For other uses, see Chess piece (disambiguation).

Polish Węgiel pieces

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

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.

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 or handicap games.

## Number

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Chess pieces|
King

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Queen

Rook

Bishop

Knight

Pawn

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:

* 1 king
* 1 queen
* 2 rooks
* 2 bishops
* 2 knights
* 8 pawns

## Definitions

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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, but not including the chessboard. When used this way, "piece" is synonymous with "chessman" or simply "man".[2][3] This usage can be seen in chess rule books, such as the FIDE Laws of Chess[4] and the US Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess.[5]
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.[6]
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".[7]

## Moves

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Main article: Rules of chess

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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. (This can be thought of as moving two squares horizontally then one square vertically, or moving one square horizontally then two squares vertically—i.e. in an "L" pattern.) 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.[8]

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.[9]

## Relative value

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Main 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.[10] 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.[11] 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.

## Manufacture

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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.

## History

[edit]

See 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
* A pawn of quartz from 10th–11th century (Fatimid Egypt?). Islamic chess sets favored abstract designs.

* A knight made around 1250 in London, England. The knight is battling a dragon.

* 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.

* A 12th century warder (modern rook) made of whale ivory of Scandinavian origin, similar to the famous Lewis chessmen.

* A 13th century Queen astride a horse with attendants, of Scandinavian origin. The Queen replaced the Persian Vizier in European chess.

* 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

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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.[12]

Overview of chess piece names  Language  | King | Queen | Rook | Bishop | Knight | Pawn | Chess | Check | Checkmate/Mate

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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 дама / царица
lady / tsaritsa | 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 王 (wáng)
king | Q 后 (hòu)
queen | R 車 (jū)
chariot | B 象 (xiàng)
elephant | N 馬 (mǎ)
horse | (P) 兵 (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[13] | 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 | ლ ლაზიერი (lazieri)
queen | ე ეტლი (etli)
chariot | კ კუ (ku)
tortoise | მ მხედარი (mkhedari)
rider | პ პაიკი (paiki)
pawn | ჭადრაკი (Čadraki)  | ქიში (K'ishi)  | შამათი (Shamat'i)
German[14] | 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 rí
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 | ಮ ಮಂತ್ರಿ (mantri)
minister | ಆ ಆನೆ (aane)
elephant | ರ ರಥ (ratha)
chariot | ಕು ಕುದುರೆ (kudure)
horse | ಪಾ ಪದಾತಿ (padaati)
foot soldier | ಚದುರಂಗ (caduraṅga)  |  |
Kazakh | Кр патша (patşa)
king | У уәзір (uäzır)
vizier | Т тура (tura)
tower | П піл (pıl)
elephant | А ат (at)
horse | (П) пешка (peşka) / (С) сарбаз (sarbaz)
foot soldier / warrior | шахмат (şahmat)  | шах (şah)  | 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[15] | A signifer / cursor / stultus / alphinus
standard-bearer / messenger / fool[15] | 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
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 hetman / królowa
general (hist.) / queen | W wieża
tower | G goniec / laufer
courier / (ger. derived) | S skoczek / koń
jumper / horse | (P) pion / pionek
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 | K 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 | ข ขุน (khun)
king | ต เม็ด / ตรี / มนตรี (met / tri / montri)
counselor | ร เรือ (ruea)
ship | ค โคน (khon)
| ม 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 | Kр 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 (fīlah)
| 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]

Main article: Fairy chess piece

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]

* Chess portal

* Chess 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 set

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ (Burgess 2009:523)(Hooper & Whyld 1992:307)
2. ^ (Hooper & Whyld 1992:307)
3. ^ (Hooper & Whyld 1992:200)
4. ^ "Fide Laws of Chess taking effect from 1 January 2023". FIDE. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
5. ^ Just, Tim (1 January 2024). US Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess (PDF) (7th ed.). ISBN 9781797716909. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
6. ^ (Brace 1977:220)
7. ^ (Just & Burg 2003:5)
8. ^ (Just & Burg 2003:13–16)
9. ^ (Just & Burg 2003:13–16)
10. ^ (Hooper & Whyld 1992:438–39)
11. ^ (Soltis 2004:183)
12. ^ (Luiro 2009)
13. ^ The Estonian chess terms were coined by Ado Grenzstein.
14. ^ "Handbook". www.fide.com. Retrieved 22 March 2019. "The pieces bear the names: Koenig, Dame, Turm, Laeufer, Springer, Bauer"
15. ^ a b H. J. R. Murray, A History of Chess, ch. 11.

## References

[edit]

* Brace, 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 2011-11-04

## External links

[edit]

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