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7. The King

Learn how the king moves and why keeping it safe is your top priority.

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Introduction

The king is the most important piece—if it's checkmated, you lose! The king moves slowly but must be protected at all costs. Let's learn its movement.

Lesson Content

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The king moves one square in any direction—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. It's the slowest piece on the board.

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1. ..Ke5

Move the king one square forward to e5.

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2. Kd5

Move the king one square straight up to d5.

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The king can capture enemy pieces by moving to their square, just like other pieces. But the king can never move to a square that's attacked by an opponent's piece.

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3. Kxd5

Capture the black pawn with the king!

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The king cannot move to a square where it would be in check (attacked). Two kings can never stand next to each other—they must always keep at least one square between them.

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How far can the king move?

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What happens if your king is checkmated?

Key Takeaways

  • The king moves one square in any direction
  • It can capture enemy pieces but never move into check
  • Two kings can never stand next to each other
  • If your king is checkmated, you lose the game
  • King safety is the most important principle in chess

Now play it through

Step through every move on a real board, try the wrong ones, and ask Knighty why they fail.

Practice Interactively

Summary

The king moves one square in any direction. It's the slowest but most important piece—protect it at all costs!

Ready to Practice?

Practice Interactively

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