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Chess 101: The Bishop Chess Piece

June 20, 2011
Tags: Chess 101, Learning Chess Articles, Teaching Chess Articles

Bishop Chess Piece

The Bishop chess piece is easily the most forgotten piece of all the chess pieces. From the beginners’ perspective, the piece cannot do a whole lot to help out your game, considering each piece can only cover half of the board at a time and is quite vulnerable to attacks from straight on. But the bishop does have his place in the game of chess. In most chess sets, the piece is very traditional. It is a tall, slender piece with a pointed tip that has a strange cut made into it. Usually, the design doesn’t change much, unlike the Knight piece, which has a lot of flair in it’s design.

How A Bishop Chess Piece Moves

The bishop chess piece is stuck moving in diagonals. Each player starts out with two bishop pieces, each one residing on it’s own color of square. Between both pieces, you can cover the entire board, but one piece can only cover one half of the board, only the colors of squares it started the game on.

  • The bishop can move in any direction diagonally, so long as it is not obstructed by another piece.
  • The bishop piece cannot move past any piece that is obstructing it’s path.
  • The bishop can take any other piece on the board that is within it’s bounds of movement.

Basic Tactics

Bishops are usually considered stronger pieces toward the end of the game. Often, though, the pawns make it difficult to use the bishop piece during the early parts of the game. The bishop is considered excellent in defending a castled King, though and can be used to help pin pieces into areas of the board. Most experts would agree, though, that giving up a Bishop is better than giving up a Rook.

Favorite Chess Sets

Here are a few of our favorite chess sets with good bishop pieces:

Chess 101: The Knight Chess Piece

June 13, 2011
Tags: Chess 101, Learning Chess Articles, Product Reviews, New, Etc

Unique Knight Chess Pieces

When it comes to your chess set, the Knight chess piece is often the defining piece in the set. This piece offers the most chance for variety and uniqueness in a chess set and it is often the piece with the most detail. When it comes to the game of chess, the Knight chess piece is often the favorite piece and most unpredictable piece in the game. Many a game has been ended because of the make-or-break tactics with the Knight.

How A Knight Chess Piece Moves

The Knight chess piece moves in a very mysterious way. Unlike Rooks, Bishops or Queens, the Knight is limited in the number of squares it can move across. In fact, it’s movement is a very specific movement. The piece moves in a shape similar to the uppercase “L”. Here are the specifics:

  • The Knight piece can move forward, backward, left or right two squares and must then move one square in either perpendicular direction.
  • The Knight piece can only move to one of up to eight positions on the board.
  • The Knight piece can move to any position not already inhabited by another piece of the same color.
  • The Knight piece can skip over any other pieces to reach it’s destination position.

Basic Tactics

Most experts prefer their Knight pieces to be “close to the action”. Because of their strange movement, the can often cover weaknesses that other pieces leave. Knight pieces are also best employed near the center of the board and they are often one of the first pieces to reach the center area of the board. The Knight also has a unique ability to attack another piece without risking being attacked by the same piece (aside from other Knights, of course).

Favorite Chess Pieces Sets

Here are some of our staff favorite chess sets with beautiful and unique Knight pieces:

Columbian Series Wood Chess Pieces ($349.99)

Alexander Series Wood Chess Pieces ($659.99)

French Rosewood Chess Pieces ($39.99)

Reykjavik Ebonized Chess Pieces ($89.99)

See All Chess Pieces

Save In Time For Father’s Day!

June 7, 2011
Tags: Wholesale Chess Sales

Chess Sets

Buy Chess Sets, Chess Boards & Chess Pieces at Wholesale Chess.

Just in time for Father’s Day, you can save 5% on your next order at Wholesale Chess! Simply enter the promotional code SAVE4DAD in the Promo Code box at check and you will ave 5% on your order. We have many excellent items in stock, perfect gifts for Father’s Day. Check out our new wood chess pieces, along with our now-in-stock travel chess sets. As always, chess books make excellent gifts.

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