Piece, Pawn,King
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FatRatScat
Feb 2, 2026
0
#1
I was taught chessmen were pieces(minor and major), pawns and king. However, everyone seems to use piece for every token on the chess board. Everyone includes FIDE and Chess.com. I'd like to hear some thoughts on this. It seems to make talking about positions easier if pieces and pawns are distinct terms. Like saying endgames with pieces.
Feb 2, 2026
0
#2
Chess "pieces" refer to the physical things you move on the chess board, but "pawns" are not "technically" a "piece"... they are just called "pawns."
Many people don't know this technical detail and so they call pawns "pieces" as well.
The king is a piece. The queen and rooks are major (or heavy) pieces and the knights and bishops are minor (or light) pieces.