Session #2: Meeting the Bishops and the Queen

You're on your own if you want to learn 3D chess!

We added two more pieces during our time this past Thursday.

The first pieces we learned about were the bishops.  We learned:

• The bishops move diagonally, on their color.
• Therefore, you have a white bishop and a black bishop.
• A bishop that's trapped by pawns or other pieces is called a "bad bishop."  A bishop that is free to move is called a "good bishop."
• Bishops are worth 3 points.

The second piece we learned about was the queen.  We learned:

• The queen can move like a rook or a bishop.  The queen can move straight or diagonally.
• The queen shouldn't be used right away. You don't want to lose your queen at all, if you can help it.
• The queen is a great power piece for creating "forks" - She can attack in many different directions at the same time.
• The queen is worth 9 points, so is considered the most valuable piece.
• A pawn that gets all the way to the other side of the board without being taken can become a 2nd queen, if the player wishes.

Next week, we'll focus on that most tricky of chess pieces, the knight.  Not a "horsie, " but a knight! We will also start looking at "Check or Checkmate" problems.