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Chess Pieces: Names, Moves, Values & Codes
Last updated: 2026-02-25
Quick reference for chess piece names, how each piece moves, how many pieces are in chess,
plus notation codes and typical piece values.
Quick answers
- What are the 16 pieces in chess called? 1 King, 1 Queen, 2 Rooks, 2 Bishops, 2 Knights, 8 Pawns (per player).
- How many pieces are in a chess set? 32 total (16 white + 16 black).
- Names of chess pieces: King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight, Pawn.
- Piece codes (notation): K, Q, R, B, N (Pawns have no letter).
- Typical piece values: Pawn=1, Knight=3, Bishop=3, Rook=5, Queen=9, King=∞.
Jump to a piece
How the chess pieces move (interactive diagrams)
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Pawn
Pawns move forward one square. On their first move they may move two squares. Pawns capture diagonally forward.
Value: 1 | Code: (none)
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Knight
Knights move in an L-shape (two squares one way, then one square sideways). They are the only piece that can jump over other pieces.
Value: 3 | Code: N
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Bishop
Bishops move diagonally any number of squares. Each bishop stays on its starting color (light or dark).
Value: 3 | Code: B
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Rook
Rooks move horizontally or vertically any number of squares (like a +).
Value: 5 | Code: R
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Queen
The queen combines rook + bishop power: she moves any number of squares in any direction.
Value: 9 | Code: Q
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King
The king moves one square in any direction. If your king is checkmated, the game ends.
Value: ∞ | Code: K
FAQ (People also ask)
What are the 16 pieces in chess called?
Each player starts with 16 pieces: 1 King, 1 Queen, 2 Rooks, 2 Bishops, 2 Knights, and 8 Pawns.
How many of each chess piece are there?
Per side: 8 pawns, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 2 rooks, 1 queen, 1 king.
What are the names of chess pieces?
King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight, Pawn.
What are the code names for chess pieces?
In algebraic notation: K (King), Q (Queen), R (Rook), B (Bishop), N (Knight). Pawns have no letter.
What are the standard chess piece values?
A common baseline: Pawn=1, Knight=3, Bishop=3, Rook=5, Queen=9. The King is invaluable.