This is often accomplished by a move called 'castling.' More on this later. Thus, in the beginning of the game, the King is best positioned off to the side of the board as in Diagram #3. Usually the King would like to stay away from open files, ranks and diagonals or where there is an absence of his pawns. The Pawns are the bodyguards for the King and shelter it from attack of the other pieces. The best position for the King primarily depends on the positioning of the Pawns. Capturing any of these pieces is illegal. However, the King cannot capture the Pawn on e6 (protected by the Rook Bishop, and both Knights ), the Bishop on d5 protected by the pawn and the Knight on f4), nor the Knight on f4 (protected by the Rook). Why? Because these pieces are not protected and capturing them would not put the King into danger or check. Which of the black pieces can the white King capture?Īnswer: It is possible for the King to only capture the Rook on the f6-square and the Knight on the d4-square. For example, the position in Diagram #2 shows the white King with many enemy pieces surrounding it. The King cannot be captured and is only able to capture a piece that is not 'protected' by another. However the King can safely move to the d6-square.įirst rule… both Kings must remain on the board the entire game.

Moving to a square attacked by an enemy piece is putting a King into danger, or 'check.' In Diagram #2, the white King cannot move to the f5-square or d4-square because it would be putting itself into danger. The King can move to any open adjacent square not under attack by an enemy piece (Diagram #1). Then in the 'endgame,' it marches to the center of the board to become a powerful fighting piece. It is a piece that is to be guarded by all other pieces or else the game will end in 'Checkmate' which means 'The King is dead!' The King spends most of the game hiding until few enemy pieces are left to attack it.

The King is a special piece on the board in that it has no assigned value.

King chess piece