The king can capture diagonally. The king is a powerful piece on the chessboard, and although it may not have the same range of movement as some other pieces, it can still capture enemy pieces in a diagonal direction.
When we talk about capturing, we mean that the king can remove an opponent’s piece from the board by moving onto the square occupied by that piece. The king captures in the same way it moves, which means it can move one square horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
So, if there is an enemy piece diagonal to the king and it is not defended by any other piece, the king can move onto that square and capture the piece. For example, if there is an opponent’s bishop on a square diagonal to the king and there are no other pieces protecting the bishop, the king can move onto that square and capture the bishop.
It is important to note that the king cannot capture the opposing king. This is a rule in chess to prevent the game from ending too quickly. The king’s primary objective is to avoid being captured by the opponent’s pieces and to protect itself at all costs.
In terms of strategy, capturing with the king is generally not recommended unless it is necessary or advantageous. The king is the most valuable piece on the board, and exposing it to potential attacks can be risky. It is usually better to use other pieces to capture enemy pieces while keeping the king safe.
In my personal experience playing chess, I have rarely found myself using the king to capture enemy pieces. The king is typically kept in a safe position, away from potential threats. However, there have been situations where capturing with the king became necessary to secure a win or prevent a loss. These situations often arise in the endgame when there are fewer pieces on the board and the king becomes more active.
To summarize, while the king can capture diagonally, it is generally not recommended to use the king for capturing purposes due to its vulnerability. The king’s primary role is to protect itself and avoid being captured by the opponent’s pieces.