Chess Pieces

Make your move with chess pieces

An ancient game of strategy and tactics, chess is exciting and fun for players of all ages. Daring moves with unique chess pieces are part of a pastime that players have enjoyed for ages.

Chess was invented nearly 1,500 years ago and by 1400 AD, the Europeans were so in love with the game that they renamed the chess pieces to represent medieval times. Those chess pieces, each with their own unique abilities and uses, are detailed below.

Pawns

The eight chess pieces known as pawns represent laborers or serfs, who in medieval Europe were actually considered to be property of wealthy landowners. Laborers were traded like goods or used as diversions during battles in order to protect the landowner. The job of pawn chess pieces is solely to protect higher-ranking chess pieces.

Knights

Chess sets come with two chess pieces called knights. A medieval knight was a professional solider. In chess, the knights are ranked higher than pawns but their duty is still to protect more important chess pieces and, like the pawn, they are often sacrificed to save the other chess pieces.

Rook

The rook, sometimes called castle chess pieces, provide a safe refuge, just as castles in ancient times did.

Bishops

As chess pieces, the bishops represent the church. In medieval times, the clergy were important public figures and were protected by the rest of the citizens. Lower chess pieces keep the bishops safe.

Queen
 
During times of kingdoms the queen exerted great influence on the king and often actually held more power than he did. The game of chess mirrors ancient times in that the queen is the most powerful chess piece.

King

Even though the king isn't the most powerful of all chess pieces he is the most important. The king must be defended and kept safe at all times and at all costs. If the king falls, so does the kingdom, which in terms of chess means that the game is over.

More information on chess sets