Chess, just like any other sport, has a set of rules. Due to the multiplicity of influences chess has suffered throughout the centuries, consolidating its rules took longer than expected.
Only with the foundation of the FIDE, or Federation Internationale des Echecs, in 1924, were the rules set in stone.
It’s true that some of the rules date back to the first years of the game. These early rules that still exist constitute the most basic principles of chess, such as the medieval warfare general aspect of the game, for instance.
Considering the changes chess went through before reaching its modern version, we can easily consider the historical influence of medieval times to be the key factor that led the game to have kings, queens, knights, bishops, rooks, and pawns as pieces.
Chess Pieces Hierarchy
Still, in the historical influence, the importance of the pieces on the chessboard is a clear reflection of the hierarchy of the time. Starting with the kings, the leaders of the nations that sit on each side of the board, and the queens right next to them serving as their most powerful allies.
The bishops, the most trustworthy advisors, the knights that are always ready to protect their Royal Family, and the rooks, the symbol of the power of the imponent medieval castles.
Lastly, the pawns, the soldiers of the front, are less important on the social scale but are the first ones to give their lives to keep the kingdom safe.
The whole setup of chess reeks of medieval warfare and its hierarchy. Hierarchy is probably the best word to define the scale of importance of chess pieces. The king is the piece that can neither be captured nor put in danger at any time during the game.
Surely, should a kingdom lose its king, the whole population would be under a new government. That is why all the pieces must protect the king at all times.
Can You Put Yourself In Check In Chess?
Even in the rules of chess established by FIDE, a player cannot harm his or her own king. That is considered an illegal move that goes against the most basic principle of the game. So no, you can never put yourself in check deliberately.
Article 1.2 of FIDE laws of chess states that a player cannot even leave the king in danger — even if done so by mistake. So, any moves made by the opponent that constitute a threat to the king have to be immediately dealt with.
So, apart from risking losing the king and, consequently, the match, a player can never put him or herself in check intentionally because the very laws of chess say so. That is because the king’s protection is the game’s most important principle.
Therefore, if you find yourself facing an imminent defeat due to a lack of material or even because you fell for your opponent’s strategy, seeking a stalemate may end up being the best endgame strategy left.