Algebraic notation (chess) board. Thus each square has a unique identification of file letter followed by rank number. (For example, White's king starts the game on square e1; Black's knight on b8 can move to open squares a6 or c6.) Each piece type (other than pawns) is identified by an uppercase letter. English-speaking players use the letters "K" for king, "Q" for queen, "R" for rook, "B" for bishop, and "N" for knight (since K is already used). "S" (from the German "Springer") was also used for the knight in the early days of algebraic notation and is still used in some chess
Chess piece Chess piece A chess piece, or chessman, is any of the six different movable objects used on a chessboard to play the game of chess. Each player begins with a total of sixteen pieces. The pieces that belong to each player are distinguished by color. The lighter colored pieces are referred to as "white," and the player that owns them, "White". The darker colored pieces are referred to as "black", and the player that owns them, "Black". The word "piece" has three meanings, depending on the context. The context should make the intended meaning clear . In the first context,