Chess is both an elegant and artistic game. The strategies and tactics employed are nothing short of marvelous. Likewise, the accuracy with which chess moves are executed is just beautiful.
The craftsmanship of chess pieces is very distinct and unique. From the simple to the very complicated, these pieces each have distinctive features and characteristics. The chamber that houses these beautiful works of art used to create magic is called the chess set.
The chess set is the container that houses all the chess pieces. Some chess sets might be made of plastic or cardboard, while some are made of the most valuable items money can buy, like diamonds and even gold.
If you’re new to the game, you might have wondered how many chess pieces are in a set. Since chess sets vary in size and build, the question of “how many chess pieces are in a set?” may bog the mind of a new player.
Rest assured, this article will provide the answer and examine how many chess pieces are in a set while explaining their various features and roles in the game.
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How Many Chess Pieces Are In A Set?
Chess pieces or chessmen are the musical keys with which the symphony of chess is created. They are the life and soul of the game. Without the chess piece, the game of chess would not exist.
The number of chess pieces in a set is 32, and each player has 16 pieces. Chess pieces in a set include the King, Queen, Bishop, Knight, Rook, and Pawn.
There are eight pawns, two bishops, two rooks, two knights, and a King and Queen for each player.
We’ll now examine the chess pieces one after the other and explain their roles.
1. THE KING
The King is the most valuable piece on the board. It is the game itself. The whole chess game revolves around the capture of the King. Your opponent’s primary goal will be the capture of your King. Therefore, the King must be protected at all times.
Since the King is meant to be protected, there is a special move in chess that allows the King to hide behind the other pieces. This move is called CASTLING. Castling is performed by moving the King two squares on the board toward a rook on the same rank and moving the rook to the King’s other side.
2. THE QUEEN
The Queen is the most powerful chess piece due to her wide range of mobility and devastating powers on the chessboard. The Queen can move diagonally, vertically, or horizontally.
3. THE ROOK
The rook was formerly called the castle. It is another piece on the chessboard which moves horizontally or vertically. The rook also partners with the King to perform the act of castling.
4. THE KNIGHT
The Knight is a chess piece that is shaped like a horse. The points worth of a knight is 3. It moves in an “L-shape”—that is, it can move two squares in any direction vertically followed by one square horizontally, or two squares in any direction horizontally followed by one square vertically.
5. THE BISHOP
The bishop is a piece that moves diagonally across the chessboard. It is worth 3 points. Also, each player has two bishops: the white bishop (that moves diagonally along the light squares) and the black bishop (that moves diagonally along the dark squares). When they are well placed, the two bishops are a very formidable weapon.
6. THE PAWN
The pawn is regarded as the least valuable piece on the board. The pawn is said to be worth a point on the points board. A pawn always moves forward. The pawn can move a distance of two squares on the first move. But after that, it can only move one square at a time. It can capture enemy pieces diagonally. Although the pawn is regarded to have very little value, it can be of immense value in a game. If a pawn reaches the other side of the board, it can become any piece on the board. This move is called Promotion.
And there you have it! So now you know how many chess pieces are in a set and their various roles.
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