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@ soma
2025-04-02 21:14:37| Piece | How It Moves | Special Rules | | --------- | ------------------------------------- | --------------------- | | Pawn | Forward 1 (or 2), captures diagonally | En passant, promotion | | Rook | Straight lines | Castling | | Knight | L-shape (2+1) | Jumps over pieces | | Bishop | Diagonals | Color-locked | | Queen | Any direction | None | | King | 1 square any way | Castling, checkmate |
Pieces
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Pawn (♙ / ♟️)
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Moves: Forward 1 square (or 2 on first move).
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Captures: Diagonally 1 square.
Special:
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En passant: Captures a pawn that moved 2 squares past it.
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Promotion: Reaches the 8th rank → becomes any piece (usually Queen).
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Rook (♖ / ♜)
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Moves: Straight lines (any distance).
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Special: Castling (moves with the king).
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Knight (♘ / ♞)
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Moves: "L-shape" (2 squares one way + 1 square perpendicular).
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Jumps: Over other pieces.
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Bishop (♗ / ♝)
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Moves: Diagonals (any distance).
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Stays on one color forever.
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Queen (♕ / ♛)
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Moves: Any direction (straight/diagonal, any distance).
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Most powerful piece!
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King (♔ / ♚)
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Moves: 1 square in any direction.
Special:
Castling: Swaps places with a rook (if no blocks/checks).
Checkmate: Loses if trapped with no escape.
How to move
- One move per turn
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Choose your piece, place it on a legal square
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Your color only: White moves first, then Black, alternating.
- No passing: You must move if it’s your turn.
How to Capture ("Eat")
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Land on an enemy piece: Replace it with your piece.
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Pawns capture diagonally only (not straight).
- Kings cannot be captured (checkmate ends the game).
✔ Check: Attack the enemy king (they must escape next turn). ❌ Illegal: Moving into check or leaving your king in check.
Special moves
| Move | Key Rule | Notation | | ---------- | ---------------------------------- | ----------- | | Castling | King + rook, no prior moves/checks |
O-O| | Promotion | Pawn→any piece at 8th rank |e8=Q| | En Passant | Capture a 2-square pawn jump |exd6 e.p.|
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Castling (The King’s Escape)
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What: King + Rook move together in one turn.
How:
- King moves 2 squares toward a rook.
- Rook jumps to the other side of the king.
Rules:
- No checks: King can’t be in check or pass through check.
- Never moved: King and that rook must be untouched.
Types:
Kingside (♔→♖, faster): O-O
Queenside (♔←♖, safer): O-O-O
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Promotion ("Crowning")
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What: Pawn reaches the 8th rank → turns into any piece (usually Queen).
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How: Replace the pawn with a new piece (even if the original is still on the board).
Fun fact: You can have 9 queens (1 original + 8 promotions)!
Promotion example (Pawn→Queen at h8)
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En Passant (French for "In Passing")
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When: Enemy pawn moves 2 squares forward past your pawn.
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How: Capture it diagonally (as if it moved only 1 square).
Rule: Must do it immediately (next turn only).
chess #elsalvador #somachess
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