Beginner 1

How the King Moves and Captures

Learn how the king moves one square, how it captures, and why king safety matters.

Meet the King

The king is the most important piece. If your king is checkmated, you lose the game. The king moves one square at a time in any direction, but he is not allowed to step onto a square that is under attack. In this lesson you will see how the king moves, how he captures, and why he usually stays safe behind his pawns until the endgame.

Illustration of a king in chess

The king is like your royal treasure — he does not move fast, but you must protect him at all costs.

Play a King Safety Game vs Computer

Now you will practice keeping your king safe while using your pawns. You will play as White with a king and pawns. Stockfish will play as Black with the same material.

  • Practice moving your king one step at a time to stay safe from checks.
  • Use your pawns as a shield in front of your king.
  • Try to bring your king toward the centre in the endgame, but only when it is safe.

Play a few games and watch how a careful king can escape checks and slowly help the pawns march forward.

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