--- title: "Chess pieces" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "Chess pieces are the sixteen units each side starts with: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights and eight pawns." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-value.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rook.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/queen.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/rules-notation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Chess pieces > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. Chess pieces are the sixteen units each side starts with: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights and eight pawns. Chess pieces are the sixteen units each side starts with: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights and eight pawns; in everyday speech, though, piece usually means everything except the pawns. Each side begins with sixteen chess pieces in a single color: one king, one queen, two rooks, [two bishops](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop-pair.md), two [knights](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) and eight pawns. The Laws number them this way, and their notation chapter notes that in the notation description "piece" means a piece other than a pawn. That second meaning is the one most players use. When a coach says "develop your pieces", the pawns are not included. In written notation the king is K, the queen Q, the rook R, the bishop B and the knight N, with N chosen so that it is not confused with the king. Pawns carry no letter at all. Pieces are grouped by value and role. Bishops and knights are minor pieces, rooks and queens are major pieces, and the king is priceless. The table gives the rough values coaches use as a first guide, which the [piece value](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-value.md) entry explains in full. Values are a starting point only, because activity, structure and [king safety](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-safety.md) change them in real positions. Learn each piece's strengths early. Chess pieces, their letters in notation and their rough values: | Piece | Letter in notation | Value in points | Group | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Pawn | none | 1 | Pawn | | Knight | N | 3 | Minor piece | | Bishop | B | 3 | Minor piece | | Rook | R | 5 | Major piece | | Queen | Q | 9 | Major piece | | King | K | not counted | Cannot be exchanged | Also called: piece, chess piece, chessman. Compare it with [King](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king.md). The king moves one square in any direction or castles, may never be left in check or moved into check, and is never captured, because the game ends when it is checkmated. Also worth reading is [Pawn](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn.md). The pawn moves one square straight forward, or two from its starting square, captures one square diagonally forward, and is exchanged for a queen, rook, bishop or knight on the far rank. It sits close to [Queen](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/queen.md). The queen moves any number of squares along a rank, file or diagonal, provided the path is clear, which makes her the most powerful piece on the board. Once "Chess pieces" is familiar, the next question is what to work on at your rating, which the [improvement plans by rating band](https://georgelichess.com/improve.md) answer with game and puzzle data. ## Related terms - [Piece value](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-value.md) - [Pawn](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn.md) - [Knight](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) - [Bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) - [Rook](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rook.md) - [Queen](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/queen.md) - [King](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king.md) ## Guides that go further - [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid. - [How much does chess coaching cost?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each. - [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li. ## Sources - FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023) (Article 2.2), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023 - FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023) (Appendix C.1 to C.4), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023 [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Piece value in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-value.md) - [Pawn in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn.md) - [Knight in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) - [Bishop in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) - [Rook in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rook.md) - [Queen in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/queen.md) - [King in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king.md) - [Chess terms: Rules, notation and equipment](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/rules-notation.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)