“The King seems to radiate a powerful authority”

  Your function as King in a game of Chess is to snatch lighting from the sky and the scepter from the opposing King. The two Kings have a special role in a contest, since the object as laid down in the rules, is the pursuit and checkmate of the enemy King. If you capture all your opponent’s pieces and the King still remains at large then you have not won the game. The King must at all costs be protected from attack. Capture of the other pieces may only be a means to facilitate the final chase and submission of the opposing King. The King may move one cell forward, backward, or laterally (sideways). He may capture any one of your opponent’s pieces which stand on an adjoining cell to what which he occupies, provided that the piece has been left unprotected. Said piece is to be removed from the board. The King has the peculiar privilege of  being exempt from this indignity (capture). Your King is not permitted to move into check, that is, onto any cell or square which is guarded by a piece of your opponent. The King may not be moved to a cell adjacent to that on which the rival King is stationed. If placed in block of cells A, B, or C on a vacant board he may move to any of the eight different cells or squares surrounding him. If placed on the side of the board, he may move to any of five different cells or squares. If placed in the corners of the board, three cells or squares are at his command only.

 “The King never dies”

  A King is usually described as a male sovereign or monarch, who holds by life tenure the chief authority over a country and people. The King regards his subjects as his children and admonishes his administrators to observe gentleness in dealing with them. The King seems to radiate a powerful authority and a strange intensity of feeling, characteristic of statuary art. He sits on his throne with his face radiating both authority and love - a haunting beauty - his majestic presence inspiring awe and a sense of mystery.

“Punctuality is the politeness of Kings”

  The King is one of the major pieces in the game of Chess moving one cell in any direction and is known under different names in differing countries -see table below. The King in the 13th century was allowed to make a leap, but only once in a game, and from this idea the castling move evolved. You must try to keep your King safe at all times as the aim of the game is to capture the enemy’s King. The King is known by different names in differing countries:

“That the King can do no wrong, is a necessary and
fundamental principle of the English Constitution”

  At the beginning of a game it is best to move His Majesty to the side of the board by castling. If left in the center he is exposed to assault as the rest of your pieces are developed. He is strongest in the endgame when there are few major and/or minor pieces remaining and can help checkmate the opponent’s King or even win pieces. Your King can only move one cell per move and so has no attacking power during the early part of the game.

“Lit De Justice”

  The cell on which the King resides. French: the sofa upon which the King of France sat when holding formal sessions of parliament. A game of Chess/session. The King plays two parts in the game, while he is usually passive at first, later he frequently assumes an active role. In fact, in the endgame the King often has great influence as an active major piece.

  In the middle of the board he controls eight cells, all those in his immediate vicinity, and this is mainly useful in protecting his own pieces and attacking your opponents. In the middle game it is above all the passive function of the King that is predominant. The danger of checkmate not only nearly always prevents him from taking part in the struggle with the enemy pieces but often even compels his own pieces to give him care and protection.

  Cases where the King supports the other pieces in attack are extremely rare in the middle game. It is much commoner in the middle game for the King’s qualities to be turned to advantage in defense, in the protection of his own major and minor pieces. If a major piece attacks your King, try to interpose a piece that attacks the checking piece if possible. Try to check the opposing King and oblige him to move, thus depriving your adversary’s King of the right to castle (this is considered good play).

  Sometimes you can give a sequence of checks or even sacrifice a major piece, to force the King into the middle of the rank-8, where the King can be attacked by your other pieces. In the endgame phase, your King should be busily engaged and used to compensate for his previous inactivity. The result of a game may depend on your skill in managing the King in the endgame.

“Soon there will be only five Kings left: the King of England, the King of
spades, the King of clubs, the King of hearts and the King of diamonds”

  During the Middle Ages the word “Scacus” was used for King but, during later periods scacus was used for any of the Chess pieces and its plural “Scaci” was used to denote the game of traditional Chess itself. The French retain the plural form “Les Echecs”, and the Italians “Gli Scacchi”. In Ancient Mesopotamia kingship was said to have come from heaven - the King's position was given by the gods and his principal duty is to serve them. As mediators between gods and people King's have an important place and many religious obligations, including the building and maintenance of temples.

  The King was originally called “Rey” and his movement very restricted (not being allowed to move at all except for the necessity of extricating himself from check/+). In the 13th century he was allowed to move one cell forward but not permitted to move or capture diagonally. Eventually he was allowed to move and capture one cell in any direction which is the way he moves today. The King’s range has never extended beyond one cell.

  In old India, the King in Chess was called ksh, and that he connects the words meaning to Kush. Also, the Indians called the squares of the chessboard ksh-tagara, which means granary [Kings granary?], or fertility squares (connection with fertility and especially with Venus, in all of her various forms). The Mayan name for our sun is Kinich Ahau ksh = kinich. The Mayan names for the pieces are given below: (from Goddess web page)

Mayan piece names

  Notes: for more information on the usual Chess King, see Chesmayne illustrated rules of Chess or the FIDE laws of Chess. 

  In Chaturanga the King moves as usual King, but additionally has the right to make one Knight-move during the game, provided that he has not been checked before he makes his Knight-move. Castling doesn’t exist (invented in the middle ages).

  In Shatranj the King moves as usual King, but may not castle.

  In Xiangqi the King may not leave the palace (the central 3 x 3 area), and also may not move into the same file (column) as the opposing King unless there are interposing pieces.

King graphics

	K
	Symbols	King figurines	Xiangqi figurines
Staunton King piece	Shogi figurine	Staunton King Graphics