Chess Pieces Tier List
You've heard of chess. Everyone has.
Maybe you watched Queen's Gambit! Maybe your eyes glazed over while someone explained the finer points of an elaborate strategy. But now it's come time to learn the real game!... and what you see before you is a bunch of weird pieces that don't make much sense. Wouldn't it be nice if someone ranked their usefulness for you? After all, how are you supposed to strategize if you don't know what you have in front of you?
I thought the same thing. Not to worry, I have resolved your deepest insecurities with the tier list written below. Enjoy:
D Tier:
King - One space in any direction unoccupied. Cannot take another King. Can never be in any form of danger.
First up and in last place comes the all important King. Being able to move in any direction may sound useful. But much like the kings of the real world, very little can actually get accomplished moving so slowly. To make matters worse, the King is also resticted to spaces free of any threats whatsoever. It is tough to take offensive actions with this piece. Kings cower behind the other pieces on the board, hoping to escape a grim fate. Not being able to take the opponent's King with your King piece also makes this potential MVP the least interesting and useful piece. To the bottom tier it goes.
First up and in last place comes the all important King. Being able to move in any direction may sound useful. But much like the kings of the real world, very little can actually get accomplished moving so slowly. To make matters worse, the King is also resticted to spaces free of any threats whatsoever. It is tough to take offensive actions with this piece. Kings cower behind the other pieces on the board, hoping to escape a grim fate. Not being able to take the opponent's King with your King piece also makes this potential MVP the least interesting and useful piece. To the bottom tier it goes.
C Tier:
Pawn - can move forward to the unoccupied square immediately in front of it, or two squares forward on its first move. Captures diagonally. Can be Promoted!
Pawns are weird ones. Though they are capable of an intriguing first move and setting the pace of the game, they also get stuck with limited diagonal attacks. They are the most numerous, but only really as cannon-fodder. But it's not all terrible! Pawns are too often overlooked, but they can be used effectively to cover your own pieces or threaten unwelcome attackers. And NOBODY expects a pawn. On the board they are often used as a wall; blocking movements and daring your opponent to start a chain reaction of chaotic trades. Pawns also get two rad abilities worth noting - 1) should a Pawn make it to the far side of the board, they are promoted and transformed into any piece of your choosing (usually a Queen). OR they can do something called "en passant" which is super cool sounding, but rarely actually helpful. Still, pawns ave a ton of utility and should be used carefully!
Pawns are weird ones. Though they are capable of an intriguing first move and setting the pace of the game, they also get stuck with limited diagonal attacks. They are the most numerous, but only really as cannon-fodder. But it's not all terrible! Pawns are too often overlooked, but they can be used effectively to cover your own pieces or threaten unwelcome attackers. And NOBODY expects a pawn. On the board they are often used as a wall; blocking movements and daring your opponent to start a chain reaction of chaotic trades. Pawns also get two rad abilities worth noting - 1) should a Pawn make it to the far side of the board, they are promoted and transformed into any piece of your choosing (usually a Queen). OR they can do something called "en passant" which is super cool sounding, but rarely actually helpful. Still, pawns ave a ton of utility and should be used carefully!
B Tier:
Knight - moves in an "L"-shape: two squares vertically and one square horizontally, or two squares horizontally and one square vertically. Leaping included.
B tier may be controversial, but hear me out: While having an intriguing "leaping" move set, these pieces can also be accused of being too flashy. The eccentric jumps draw the eye, and therefore more attention will be paid to stopping their advances. It can also be tough to corner a King using a Knight - the movement across the board is too unpredictable cumbersome to plan without allies. But Knights can be infinitely useful in clearing other pieces from the board to make the endgame easier to set up. The wildcard factor will get you far in this life, and so it does for the Knight pieces on this list.
B tier may be controversial, but hear me out: While having an intriguing "leaping" move set, these pieces can also be accused of being too flashy. The eccentric jumps draw the eye, and therefore more attention will be paid to stopping their advances. It can also be tough to corner a King using a Knight - the movement across the board is too unpredictable cumbersome to plan without allies. But Knights can be infinitely useful in clearing other pieces from the board to make the endgame easier to set up. The wildcard factor will get you far in this life, and so it does for the Knight pieces on this list.
Bishop - Moves diagonally to unoccupied space and captures the same way.
Waiting amongst the weaker pieces, one group hides in the corners waiting to strike. Before your enemy can realize their mistake, it is already too late. A Bishop has arrived, sniping across the field to eviscerating any of your grand schemes. That is what makes the Bishop so special! Like the Rooks, their ability to traverse great distances in a single turn makes them immensely powerful, but with a hint of extra sneaky from the diagonals. Seasoned players will know to keep a keen eye out to be sure, but diagonal movements can be tough to visualize when looking to strategize more than a couple turns in advance. Plans can seem to be working flawlessly when a Bishop comes in to spoil the entire plan. Who knew their was so much menace behind those faceless carved figures?
A Tier:
Rook - Horizontal or vertical in as many open spaces.
Also referred to as "Castles", these pieces are quintessential to any player's strategy!... if you can get them out of the corners. These pieces are fantastic at covering a wide range of space in one moves, as well as be able to block your opponent's aggressive movements from getting too out of hand. The only trouble is that by being stuck in the corner of the board at the start, it can be tough to get them mobilized. Rooks have simple actions, but there is power in simplicity. When you are in a bind, Rooks are the perfect "Ole Reliable" pieces: nothing incredibly flashy, but perfect to rest your weight on to do some heavy lifting. In the end game they are beyond invaluable for finishing off your foes King. Dependable to the end.
Also referred to as "Castles", these pieces are quintessential to any player's strategy!... if you can get them out of the corners. These pieces are fantastic at covering a wide range of space in one moves, as well as be able to block your opponent's aggressive movements from getting too out of hand. The only trouble is that by being stuck in the corner of the board at the start, it can be tough to get them mobilized. Rooks have simple actions, but there is power in simplicity. When you are in a bind, Rooks are the perfect "Ole Reliable" pieces: nothing incredibly flashy, but perfect to rest your weight on to do some heavy lifting. In the end game they are beyond invaluable for finishing off your foes King. Dependable to the end.
S Tier:
Queen - Any direction as many spaces unoccupied without leaping. Captures in any direction.
Could it be anything other than this titan of a piece in the number one slot? It is the promise of a King with the delivery of the final boss of the hardest game you've ever played. The Queen kicks harder than life itself if wielded well! Able to traverse the board in any direction up to any amount of unoccupied spaces you want, the Queen piece is the ace in the hole. The Queen makes it easy to plot out how to best capture your opponents King, and terrifying to scheme against. Many player's lose their confidence when their Queen is taken, and it's no surprise why. In chess, there is no other piece better. All Hail the Queen!
Could it be anything other than this titan of a piece in the number one slot? It is the promise of a King with the delivery of the final boss of the hardest game you've ever played. The Queen kicks harder than life itself if wielded well! Able to traverse the board in any direction up to any amount of unoccupied spaces you want, the Queen piece is the ace in the hole. The Queen makes it easy to plot out how to best capture your opponents King, and terrifying to scheme against. Many player's lose their confidence when their Queen is taken, and it's no surprise why. In chess, there is no other piece better. All Hail the Queen!
