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Chess Moves

Summary Table: How Each Piece Moves

PieceSymbolHow it MovesMax Squares per MoveSpecial Moves
KingOne square in any direction1Castling
QueenAny number of squares in any direction7 (max on open board)-
RookAny number of squares horizontally or vertically7Castling
BishopAny number of squares diagonally7-
KnightL-shape: 2 in one direction, then 1 perpendicular1 (jumps over pieces)Can jump over pieces
PawnOne square forward (two on first move)2 (on first move)En passant, Promotion

Movement Probability Table

PiecePossible Moves from CenterProbability (out of 64 squares)
King88/64 = 12.5%
Queen2727/64 ≈ 42.2%
Rook1414/64 ≈ 21.9%
Bishop1313/64 ≈ 20.3%
Knight88/64 = 12.5%
Pawn2 (from start)2/64 = 3.1%

The king moves one square in any direction.

The queen moves in any direction for any number of squares.

The rook moves in straight lines across rows and columns.

The bishop moves diagonally.

The knight moves in an L-shape: two squares in one direction and then one to the side.

A pawn moves forward one square. It captures one square diagonally.