Changes

[[Image:StauntonPieces.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Staunton Style chess pieces. From left to right: King, Queen, Bishop, Knight, Rook, and Pawn.]]

[[Image:StauntonPieces.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Staunton Style chess pieces. From left to right: King, Queen, Bishop, Knight, Rook, and Pawn.]]

Each player has a total of 16 pieces; 8 pawns, 2 bishops, 2 knights, 2 rooks, 1 queen, 1 king.<br>

Each player has a total of 16 pieces; 8 pawns, 2 bishops, 2 knights, 2 rooks, 1 queen, 1 king.<br>

===Movement===

==Movement==

The pieces move as follows.

The pieces move as follows.

*The '''pawn''' moves one square forward, except when moving from it's opening position, when it can optionally move two.  The pawn is the only piece that captures in a way different from the way it moves.  It captures opposing pieces by capturing one square diagonally forward.  When another piece is on the square directly in front of a pawn it cannot move unless it is making a capture.  <br>

*The '''pawn''' moves one square forward, except when moving from it's opening position, when it can optionally move two.  The pawn is the only piece that captures in a way different from the way it moves.  It captures opposing pieces by capturing one square diagonally forward.  When another piece is on the square directly in front of a pawn it cannot move unless it is making a capture.  <br>

*The '''king''', which is the most important piece on the board, moves one square, either straight or diagonally.

*The '''king''', which is the most important piece on the board, moves one square, either straight or diagonally.

====Capturing====

===Capturing===

All pieces except for the pawn capture along their lines of motion - if a piece could move to occupy the location of an opponent's piece, it can capture that piece.  The only piece that does not attack along lines of motion is the '''pawn''', which can only capture by moving diagonally forward one square.  A piece is said to be undefended if it has no piece "supporting" its position - i.e., preventing an opponent from capturing it by threat of losing his attacking piece.

All pieces except for the pawn capture along their lines of motion - if a piece could move to occupy the location of an opponent's piece, it can capture that piece.  The only piece that does not attack along lines of motion is the '''pawn''', which can only capture by moving diagonally forward one square.  A piece is said to be undefended if it has no piece "supporting" its position - i.e., preventing an opponent from capturing it by threat of losing his attacking piece.

====Special Moves====

===Special Moves===

*'''Castling'''- When a player has no pieces between a rook and his king, and he has not moved either piece, he can move the king two squares in the direction of the rook, and then place the rook on the square that the king passed over. A player cannot castle if the King is currently in check, would be in check after castling, or would move through a square which is under attack.

*'''Castling'''- When a player has no pieces between a rook and his king, and he has not moved either piece, he can move the king two squares in the direction of the rook, and then place the rook on the square that the king passed over. A player cannot castle if the King is currently in check, would be in check after castling, or would move through a square which is under attack.

*'''en passant'''- French for "In passing." In chess, if a player pushes his pawn far down to the end of the board, and his opponent pushes a starting pawn 2 spaces ahead, to put the pawn on the same row to avoid confrontation, the player may choose to invoke the "en passant" move, which treats the enemy pawn as though it had only moved one space. The player may capture diagonally on the square '''behind''' the enemy pawn, and remove the enemy pawn. The principle is that the two space rule for a pawn's first move cannot be used to avoid confrontation between two pawns. However, the player may only invoke "en passant" on the first turn after the opponent pushes his pawn. He cannot make it after than turn.

*'''en passant'''- French for "In passing." In chess, if a player pushes his pawn far down to the end of the board, and his opponent pushes a starting pawn 2 spaces ahead, to put the pawn on the same row to avoid confrontation, the player may choose to invoke the "en passant" move, which treats the enemy pawn as though it had only moved one space. The player may capture diagonally on the square '''behind''' the enemy pawn, and remove the enemy pawn. The principle is that the two space rule for a pawn's first move cannot be used to avoid confrontation between two pawns. However, the player may only invoke "en passant" on the first turn after the opponent pushes his pawn. He cannot make it after than turn.

===Value===

==Value==

For the relative value of the pieces, see below.

For the relative value of the pieces, see below.

===Style===

==Style==

The most popular style of pieces are known as Staunton style pieces, the tournament standard for chess pieces, although other types exist. Often, popular themed chess sets will appear with characters from popular culture or fiction taking the places of the more common Staunton style pieces. These novelty pieces are not tournament sanctioned however, and can sometimes cause confusion during gameplay as to which piece is which.

The most popular style of pieces are known as Staunton style pieces, the tournament standard for chess pieces, although other types exist. Often, popular themed chess sets will appear with characters from popular culture or fiction taking the places of the more common Staunton style pieces. These novelty pieces are not tournament sanctioned however, and can sometimes cause confusion during gameplay as to which piece is which.