Chess rules · beginner
How to Capture in Chess
Move onto an enemy piece to capture it. Collect every black pawn with your queen.
Last updated
touch_appLearn it by doing: read the short explanation, then play it on the board.
Quick answer
To capture, move your piece onto a square occupied by an enemy piece; the enemy piece is removed from the board. Every piece captures the way it moves, except the pawn, which captures diagonally forward. Capturing is never compulsory in chess, and you can never capture your own pieces or the king.
Step by step
A piece is 'hanging' when it is attacked and nothing defends it: the opponent can simply take it. Before every move, ask: which of their pieces are undefended?
Test yourself
quizAnswer on the board. It's the same drill as in the app, no account needed.
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Common mistakes
- Taking a piece without checking whether it's defended: you may lose your capturing piece in return.
- Thinking captures are compulsory, as in draughts. In chess you may always choose another move.
- Missing free pieces: before every move, look for enemy pieces that are attacked and not defended.
Tips from the lesson
- Capture in an order where each capture lines up the next.
- Look for black pieces your pieces attack where no black piece can recapture.
Where you'll use this
FAQ
Do you have to capture in chess?add
No. Unlike draughts, capturing is always optional (unless it's the only legal move).
Can you capture the king?add
No. When the king is attacked it's check, and if it can't escape it's checkmate: the game ends before any capture.
What is a free piece?add
An enemy piece you attack that nobody defends, so you can take it without losing anything back.
Can a captured piece come back?add
Not directly. The only way is promotion: a pawn on the last rank can become a piece you lost earlier.