Each King in
Chess represents the prize the opposition seeks to win, and therefore almost always plays a defensive role.
- It can move one square in any direction (on the rank, file, and diagonals), with two exceptions:
- A king cannot move in to a square where he could be captured since doing so would end the game.
- If the king and a rook have not yet moved, and they have no pieces in between them, the pieces may castle. This is accomplished by moving the king two squares toward the rook and then placing the rook on the other side of the king. Caveat: the king can not castle out of check, into check, or through check (the square between the king's current position and castled position must not be threatened).
- The King may not make a move that would expose itself to attack and must, if possible, move out of attack. The king is said to be under attack if an enemy piece could capture him given one more move. A king under attack is said to be in check.
- When the King cannot evade attack, it is said to be checkmated and the game ends with the attacker declared the winner.
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