Short answer
All pieces except the pawn can move backwards. The king, queen, rook, bishop and knight can all move toward their own side of the board when the move fits their usual pattern. Pawns can only move forward.
Piece-by-piece table
| Piece | Can move backwards? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| King | Yes | One square in any direction |
| Queen | Yes | Any distance in a straight line, including backward and diagonally backward |
| Rook | Yes | Any distance along the file toward its own side |
| Bishop | Yes | Any distance along a diagonal toward its own side |
| Knight | Yes | Its L-shaped jump can go in any of eight directions, including backward |
| Pawn | No | Moves and captures forward only |
“Backwards” simply means toward the player’s own back rank. Because there is no special rule against it, pieces that are allowed to move in a direction can move that way regardless of whether it is toward or away from the enemy.
Why the pawn is the exception
Pawns move straight forward and capture diagonally forward. There is no rule that lets them step back, and they cannot capture backward either. This makes pawn moves permanent decisions, which is a large part of chess strategy: once a pawn advances, the squares it leaves behind may become weak. The reward for a pawn that survives its trip is promotion, when it reaches the last rank and becomes another piece. Details are in the en passant rule for the pawn’s special capture and in chess pieces: names and how each moves for promotion.
The knight and backward moves
The knight is sometimes thought to only go forward because it is often developed toward the center. In fact a knight can jump two squares back and one to the side, or one back and two to the side, so it can retreat easily. It can also jump over pieces that stand in the way.
Retreating as a strategy
Moving backward is often a good idea. Typical examples:
- pulling a bishop or knight back when it is attacked by a pawn;
- bringing the queen back to defend the king;
- using a rook on the back rank to guard against back-rank mate;
- repositioning a piece to a better square.
New players sometimes feel that retreating is passive, but strong players do it regularly when the position calls for it.
FAQ
What pieces cannot go backwards in chess? Only pawns.
Is there a forbidden move in chess? Moves that leave your own king in check, such as the ones described in how the king moves, are illegal. There is no rule against retreating.
Can a pawn capture backward? No, pawns capture diagonally forward only.