Can Chess Pieces Move Backwards ?

5 min read

Last updated: Sep 26, 2025

A close-up shot of a young boy's hand moving a black knight on a chessboard. The background is slightly blurred, focusing on the action of the game and the strategy involved.

Can chess pieces go backwards? The answer is simple: Yes. Most of the pieces on the board can go backwards, and knowing when to go backwards most often decides whether you win or lose.

Picture a queen moving back to safety and launching a new attack, or a rook moving backwards to defend your king. Not only are moves backwards allowed, but moves backwards are often needed, with pawns being the only exception. Pawns can never move backwards; they can only go forward. Once they step up, there is no going back.

FAQs

Rooks, bishops, queens, kings, and knights are the chess pieces that can move backwards in the game.
Pawn is the only piece in chess that can’t move backward, unlike every other piece that can move backward.
No, a pawn can’t ever move backwards in the chess game.
Yes, all major pieces can move backwards, which includes rooks, bishops, queens, kings, and knights.
Beginners do ask if pieces can move backwards because they have been instructed that pawns can’t move backwards, which is why they get confused if the other pieces work like that or not.

Can Chess Pieces Move Backwards ?