The king in chess: one square, but never onto an attacked one
The king moves one square in any direction, but it obeys a rule no other piece has: it may not step onto a square attacked by the opponent, nor stand next to the enemy king.
In short: the king moves one square in every direction. It cannot enter an attacked square, so it really has fewer moves than it seems. It cannot be captured — an attack on the king is check, and a game is lost by checkmate, a check with no escape. The whole game is about its safety, which is why castling matters.
How the king moves
The king moves one square in any of eight directions: straight and diagonally. That is little, but in the endgame, when few pieces remain, the king becomes an active, strong piece.
The king cannot step onto an attacked square
Its key restriction: the king may not stand on a square attacked by the opponent, nor next to the enemy king. On the board you will see a lone rook take three of the king's eight squares away. An attack on the king is check, and a check with no escape is checkmate and the end of the game.
Check, checkmate, stalemate
Check is an attack on the king that must be met at once. Checkmate is a check with no escape — a loss. And when the king is not in check but has no legal move at all, it is stalemate and a draw.
How to protect the king: castling
Castling is the only move in which the king goes two squares, hiding behind pawns and bringing a rook into play. We cover it on the page about castling.
How does the king move in chess?
One square in any direction, but not onto an attacked square.
Can the king capture a piece?
Yes, if it stands next to it and the square is not defended by the opponent.
Can two kings stand next to each other?
No — a king may not move onto a square next to the enemy king.
The king is one of six pieces — meet them together in the guide to chess pieces, and practise king safety in castling and on tasks.
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