Chess is played by two players on a chess board measuring eight-by-eight squares. The 64 squares alternate between light and dark colours - traditionally, black and white. When properly set up, a white square should be the rightmost square along the edge closest to each player.
Each square of the chessboard is identified by a unique coordinate pair—a letter and a number—from White's point of view. The vertical columns of squares, called files, are labeled a through h from White's left (the queenside) to right (the kingside). The horizontal rows of squares, called ranks, are numbered 1 to 8 starting from White's side of the board.
Pawn
Pawn chess pieces can only directly forward one square, with two exceptions.
Pawns can move directly forward two squares on their first move only.
Pawns can move diagonally forward when capturing an opponent's chess piece.
Once a pawn chess piece reaches the other side of the chess board, the player may "trade" the pawn in for any other chess piece if they choose, except another king.
Knight
The Knight piece can move forward, backward, left or right two squares and must then move one square in either perpendicular direction.
The Knight piece can only move to one of up to eight positions on the board.
The Knight piece can move to any position not already inhabited by another piece of the same color.
The Knight piece can skip over any other pieces to reach its destination position.
Bishop
The bishop can move in any direction diagonally, so long as it is not obstructed by another piece.
The bishop piece cannot move past any piece that is obstructing its path.
The bishop can take any other piece on the board that is within its bounds of movement.
Rook
The rook piece can move forward, backward, left or right at any time.
The rook piece can move anywhere from 1 to 7 squares in any direction, so long as it is not obstructed by any other piece.
Queen
The queen can move in any direction on a straight or diagonal path.
The queen cannot "jump" over any piece on the board, so its movements are restricted to any direction of unoccupied squares.
The queen can be used to capture any of your opponent's pieces on the board.
King
The king piece can move one single square in any direction.
The king cannot move onto a square that is currently occupied by a piece from its own team.
The king piece cannot move to any square that puts them into a "check" position.