How the king moves
The king moves one square in any direction. He may never move to a square where an enemy piece could capture him. Keep him safe: if the king is trapped and attacked, the game is over.
- The king can capture, if the piece is not protected.
- The two kings can never stand next to each other.
- His only longer move is castling.
Teach it
- DoPut a white king on e4.
- Say“The king is slow. He takes one step at a time, in any direction.”
- Ask“How many squares can he step to?”
- Child“Eight.”
- DoPut a black rook on a5.
- Say“The king never steps where he can be taken.”
- Ask“Which squares can he not go to now?”
- Child“d5, e5 and f5: the rook guards that row.”
Your turn!
Walk the king to the star. He moves one square at a time.
Three quick questions
How far can a king move?
Can a king move next to the other king?
Can a king capture?
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Draw a dot on every square the king can move to.
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How many squares can this king move to?
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Can the white king move to e3? Why?
Answers: King moves
- d1, f1, d2, e2, f2.
- Three: a2, b1, b2.
- No. It would stand next to the black king.
Questions parents ask
Can the king move two squares?
Only when he castles. Every other king move is one square.
Can a king capture a piece?
Yes, if the piece is not protected. A king may never capture onto a square where he would be in check.
Rules checked against FIDE Laws of Chess, taking effect from 1 January 2023 (Article 3.8) on . Found something to fix? Tell us on the contact page.