Chess piece

(Redirected from Chessmen)

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.

Polish Węgiel pieces
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 or handicap games.

Number

edit
Chess pieces
  
King
  
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:

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. (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.[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 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 (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 (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[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
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 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
statue / 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
edit