Chess Piece that Moves Diagonally [Explained all 4 Pieces]

On the chessboard, there are 4 chess pieces that can move diagonally across it. Those are the Bishop, The Queen, and The King. There is a varying degree of reach along the diagonal of each piece, and the pawn, which is the final piece of the quartet, can only move diagonally when capturing.

Chess Piece that Moves Diagonally

Chess Pieces that Moves Diagonally

There are many pieces at your disposal to go to war with your opponent on the chess board, and you can use these pieces to make different moves based on your abilities and your limitations. The one who can move diagonally, the one who can move only diagonally, and the one who moves only diagonally but under certain circumstances. On the chess board, diagonal lines make up all the possibilities for pieces.

This article explores the quartet’s full range of diagonal possibilities, answering your frequently asked questions about diagonally moving chess pieces. It is a good place for all the information you need about these pieces’ diagonal movement.

What is Diagonal Movement In Chess?

I find it quite amusing to imagine the number of chess pieces that can move diagonally. For beginners, this movement might seem strange. However, it becomes clear how the move works as long as you see the lines on the chessboard as squares.

This overview covered most chess piece movements, but the rook and knight were omitted. The knight can also move diagonally (the infamous L-shaped move), although rather awkwardly.

While the knight’s move is diagonal, it is a vertical move followed by a horizontal one, so you cannot truly say it is a diagonal chess move. If you prefer the opposite, that’s fine too. Could a knight disguise himself as a diagonally moving piece on a chessboard, according to you? Please tell me in the comments section below. Hope to hear from you!

The Bishop [ Only Chess Piece that moves Diagonally ]

Chess Bishop Diagonal Move

  • Bishops can move diagonally forward or backward without obstruction only if there are no obstructions.
  • Chess bishops cannot jump over other pieces. If another piece blocks its path, it can only move to an adjacent square (either a square it owns or an enemy square).
  • Bishops can move up to seven squares diagonally with their full range.
  • The bishop piece, including the King, can capture any piece on the board.
  • A bishop starting on a light square will stay there until the end of the game, similar to a bishop starting on a dark square.
Bishop Diagonal Movement
Diagonal movement of Bishop

Bishop is the chess piece that can only move diagonally in the game. As soon as the bishops appear on the board, the game of chess begins. A black or dark-colored bishop should be placed between two or more white bishops. Initially, they start on the first rank of the board, where there are Knights and Kings from one side (Kingside Bishop) and Knights and Queens from the other (Queenside Bishop). The bishops were introduced to you there.

From kingside to the queenside, the bishops are ranked as follows: F1 to Queenside; C1 to Kingside. A diagonal move out of the back rank requires moving the pawns on the second rank on files, b, d, e, and g to obtain the freedom of movement. The longer a bishop piece remains on the board, the stronger it becomes. A busy centerboard can restrict the bishop’s movement in the early stages of chess games due to the restriction to only diagonal movements. When they are used correctly with appropriate bishop tactics, they can be devastating to your opponent when a clear long-range path is found through discovered attacks.

The Queen [ Move Diagonally along with other Moves in Chess ]

The Chess Queen Diagonal Move Fact

  • Any unoccupied square on the diagonal can be moved forward or backward by the Queen, barring obstructions.
  • Queens cannot jump over other pieces. It can only move to one adjacent square on its own (Own piece) or capture (Enemy piece) if another piece enters its path.
  • Queens can cross the board seven times diagonally with a full range of movement.
  • The Queen piece can check King, and any pieces on the board can be captured.
Queen diagonal movement
Movement of Queen

Chess’s most powerful and versatile piece is, without a doubt, the Queen. Unless one of her own pieces is blocking her or she captures the other side, she can move the full range of seven squares diagonally across the board. In addition to being the most valuable piece, she is also the most dangerous one.

A white chess queen belongs to the player who starts, and a black chess queen belongs to the player who goes second. The white queen begins on the light-colored square and vice versa, beginning the game centrally on the first rank matching her color. Ultimately, she begins the game between the King and the Queen.

The King [ Chess Piece that goes Diagonally but with Some Limitations ]

The Chess King Diagonal Move Fact

  1. If nothing stands in his way, the King can move either forwards or backward diagonally.
  2. Kings cannot jump over other pieces. In the case of an obstacle, the piece can only move to an adjacent square (Own piece) or capture the enemy (Enemy piece).
  3. There is a maximum of one space that the King can move diagonally.
  4. Only the King piece can move to a safe square, not one in check.
Chess king movement
King movement

Chess’s most important piece, the King, can move in any direction, including diagonally, meaning it can also move in any direction. However, there are many restrictions on the King. As long as an opponent’s piece is attacking (in control) a square with the King, the King is not allowed to move or checkmate himself. Other pieces must support the King. An assassin cannot move onto a square where another ace of the same color is currently occupying.

A special chess move can no longer be used if the King moves before castling. A castling move must comply with the four castling rules. It is the King’s job to walk across the board, but it can be as slow as a tortoise if it is in motion, so it is free to move around. The King, however, may move diagonally, horizontally, and vertically. Also, the Queen has the ability to move vertically, horizontally, and diagonally.

The Pawn [ It Moves Diagonal Only when capturing in Chess ]

The Chess Pawn Diagonal Move Fact

  • Pawns can only move diagonally forward if there are no obstructions and only if they are captured.
  • Pawns can only move diagonally one space to capture.
  • Backward diagonal movement is not possible for the Pawn chess piece.
Pawn diagonal movement while capturing
Pawn diagonal movement while capturing

Pawns can only move forward when attacking diagonally, never backward. Among the diagonally moving chess pieces, the pawn stands out. In its first move, a pawn can move two steps forward but can only move forward in a vertical direction.

When a piece attacks another, it moves diagonally. A pawn can only move or attack diagonally forward, just as it can only move or attack forward as part of its ordinary movement. A way the pawn can move diagonally is known as “Pawn promotion.” It is necessary to move the pawns to the opposite end of the board before they can move diagonally, followed by promoting to any piece on the board. Moving a bishop or queen diagonally is the same as moving a pawn diagonally. The pawn can move diagonally by promoting it to a diagonally moving piece.

FAQs

The kings begin on squares opposite their own color. If a friendly piece already occupies the square to move to, the King can move horizontally, vertically, or diagonally unless a check would result from the move.

Rukh, which means chariot in Persian, is the name of the piece used in precursor games of chess in India. Large walls fortified these Indian settlements. Due to the appearance of Italian Rocca (meaning fortress) when it spread to Europe, the shape of castles may have changed.

The only pieces that are able to move in any direction are the King and queen. Although the King can move a single step, the queen can move in any direction. An ace can move up to four squares in one move, and a queen can move in any direction.

“L” indicates the direction in which the Knight moves. After moving two squares to the left, right, up, and down, he moves one square at a right angle, thus forming an “L.” Unlike the other pieces, the Knight can jump over other pieces but will only capture the piece that lands on the square he lands on (not those he has jumped over).

Wrapping Up

I hope you have found this overview of the various pieces in chess that can move diagonally helpful in your understanding of how to move those pieces diagonally. Additionally, there is only one piece in the gambit that can move diagonally: the bishop. It does not cover rooks, knights or any other special moves in chess.

Moreover, if you have any confusion about the topic “Chess Piece that Moves Diagonally,” you can comment below. I’d love to help you in solving your queries. Thank You!

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