If you've ever set up a chessboard from memory, you'll know the pause that comes with the back row. The rooks go in the corners, surely. But does the queen go next to a rook? And once the game starts, why can't a pawn take the piece right in front of it?

There are only six kinds of chess pieces to learn. Each player begins with a king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. Once you know where they start and how they move, the board becomes much easier to read. And if you're shopping for a set, knowing the pieces helps you spot the practical details a nice product photo won't tell you.

The Six Chess Pieces at a Glance

That's 16 pieces per player and 32 in a full chess piece set. The values help you weigh trades, but they aren't points you add up to win. The king has no trade value: it cannot be captured, and checkmate ends the game.

Most traditional sets make the shapes easy to tell apart: a horse-headed knight, a tower-like rook, a bishop with a cut in its top. Decorative or handmade chess pieces sometimes change those familiar outlines.

How Do You Set Up the Chessboard?

Turn the board so the square at your lower right is light. If you're playing White, Place the white chess pieces on the two rows first row in front of you runs: rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight, rook. The eight pawns go in the row ahead. Black sets up the same way at the other end.

“Queen on her color” takes care of the two middle squares. White's queen starts on the light square d1 and Black's on the dark square d8. The kings begin beside them on e1 and e8. The knights sit next to the rooks, not next to the king and queen.

How Does Each Chess Piece Move?

A piece usually captures by landing on an opponent's square. It can't land on one of its own pieces. Rooks, bishops, and queens need a clear path; the knight can jump.

Pawn

A pawn moves one square forward into an empty square. On its first move, it can advance two squares if both are clear. Capturing is different: a pawn takes an opposing piece one square diagonally forward.

Two pawns facing each other head-on can't capture each other. Pawns can't retreat. If yours reaches the far edge, you replace it with a queen, rook, bishop, or knight. Yes, you can have a second queen.

Rook

The rook goes straight along a row or column for as many clear squares as you like. It starts in a corner, but an open column gives it room to work.

Knight

The knight makes an L: two squares in one direction, then one at a right angle. It is the only piece that jumps over others. A knight on b1, for example, can hop to a3 or c3 at the start of a game. It captures only if an opposing piece is on the square where it lands.

Bishop

The bishop travels diagonally for any clear distance. You start with one on a light square and one on a dark square; each remains on that color. Lose your dark-squared bishop, and you have no bishop left that can attack dark squares.

Queen

The queen combines the rook's straight lines with the bishop's diagonals. She can cross much of an open board in one move, but she can't pass through another piece. That freedom is tempting when you're new to chess. Bring her out without a plan, though, and you may spend the next few moves rescuing her from attacks.

King

The king usually steps one square in any direction. He cannot move into check, which means an opponent controls that square. When your king is attacked, you must deal with the threat. If there is no legal way out, it's checkmate. You don't wait for someone to physically take the king.

What About Castling, Promotion, and En Passant?

Castling moves your king and one rook in the same turn. The king goes two squares toward the rook, and the rook comes to the square the king crossed. The path between them must be empty. Neither piece can have moved before, and the king cannot castle out of, through, or into check.

Promotion is what happens when a pawn reaches the farthest row. It becomes a queen, rook, bishop, or knight of the same color as part of that move. A spare queen is handy, but check your set's contents rather than assuming extras come with it.

En passant is a special pawn capture. If an opposing pawn moves two squares from its starting position and lands beside yours, your pawn can capture it as though it had moved only one. You must do so immediately on your next move. If you don't, that opportunity is gone.

What Matters When You Buy a Chess Piece Set?

Start with the contents, because “set” can mean two different things. A complete marble chess set includes the board and pieces for both players. A listing for marble chess pieces only supplies no board. If you need replacement chess pieces, check whether you're buying one figure or all 32. The handmade marble chess pieces collection is a place to compare full pieces-only sets and their color pairings.

Then look at your board. Measure a playing square, not just the outside edge, and compare it with the king's base diameter. Bases that almost fill the squares are awkward in a crowded position. If dimensions aren't listed, ask before ordering. “Fits a 12-inch board” doesn't tell you how much is playing area and how much is border.

Material is partly a matter of taste and partly a matter of how the set will be used. Wood is easier to move and pack away. Marble chess pieces and onyx chess pieces have a solid feel in the hand, though stone can chip if it lands on a hard floor. Natural veining also varies. A single replacement piece may be close in color to an older set without matching it exactly.

Take a second look at the photos. Can you tell a bishop from a pawn across the table? Do the two sides stand apart? Black and white chess pieces are easy to read, but white marble against green onyx can work too. Check for protective backing on pieces used with a polished marble chess board.

If you want the board and pieces together, compare the contents and square measurements on these complete 12-inch marble chess board set. A set that looks good in its photos still needs to fit the table where you'll actually play.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the names of the chess pieces?
They are the king, queen, rook, bishop, knight, and pawn. Each player starts with 16 pieces across those six types.

How many chess pieces come in a full set?
A standard set has 32 pieces, with 16 for each player. Check a retail listing if you also need a board or spare pieces.

Which chess piece can jump over others?
Only the knight. It moves in an L shape and can jump past other pieces, but it captures only on the square where it lands.

Does a pawn capture the same way it moves?
No. A pawn moves straight forward into an empty square but captures diagonally forward. It cannot take a piece sitting directly ahead.

Can I buy marble chess pieces without a board?
Yes. Pieces-only sets are useful if you already like your board or need to replace all its pieces. Confirm the piece count and base measurements first.

Will handmade stone pieces match the photos exactly?
Natural marble and onyx can vary in veining and shade. Expect the stated color pairing, with some variation from piece to piece.