The king

The king is lesson 4 of 6 in How the pieces move, a basics course suited to players rated around 150 (complete beginners). The king is the most important piece, but a slow one. It has 2 interactive exercises: 2 star-collecting exercises. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.

What this lesson explains

• The king moves one square in any direction. If your king is trapped, you lose the game, so keep him safe!

What you practise

• Walk the king to the star, one step at a time.
• Collect all the stars. Diagonal steps save time!

More in How the pieces move

• Previous lesson: The queen
• Next lesson: The knight
• Course overview: How the pieces move (6 lessons)