How To Play Chess

Step 1: The chess board

Chess is played on a square board which is divided into 64 squares of alternating colours. By convention these are referred to as light and dark squares.

Step 2: Chess pieces

A chess set consists of two identical groups of pieces. One is white and one black. One player plays with the white pieces, the other with the black. Each player has: one king, one queen, two bishops, two knights, two rooks, and eight pawns. White always makes the first move in any game.

Step 3: Object of the game

The object of chess is to capture your opponent's king. In practice, the king is never actually captured, but trapped so that he cannot move without being taken. This is known as checkmate, and is the end of the game.

Step 4: Board layout

The chess pieces are lined up at either end of the board in predetermined places. They are configured as follows:

The queen is always placed on her own colour, nearest the middle of the row. Next to her, in the middle, is the king. The king and queen are flanked by their bishops. Next come the knights and finally the rooks. The pawns are lined up in front of the other pieces, on the second row in.

Step 5: The pieces

King

The king is the most important piece in the game. He can move one square in any direction.

Queen

The queen is the most powerful piece in the game. She can move any number of spaces in any direction - horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Bishops

Bishops can only move diagonally, but they can move any number of spaces in one move.

Knights

The knight is the only piece that can 'jump' over other pieces. He moves one space horizontally and two spaces vertically, or two spaces horizontally and one space vertically.

Rooks

Rooks can move any number of spaces in one move, but they can only move horizontally or vertically.

When any of these pieces land on a square occupied by an opponent's piece, the player "takes" that piece, removing it from the board and out of play.

Pawns

Pawns have three different standard moves.
The first time they are moved, they can move either one or two spaces forward.
For the rest of the game they can only move one space forward at a time.
To take an opponent's piece, the pawn must move one space diagonally forwards. They cannot take by moving vertically forwards, nor can they move backwards.

Step 6: Special moves

Promotion

If a pawn reaches the other side of the board, it can be promoted to the rank of queen, bishop, knight or rook. It will then be able to move in the same way as that piece.

En Passant

In special circumstances, a pawn can also take en passant - by passing another pawn.

The first time a player moves their pawn they may move it two squares vertically.

If, when he does this, there is an opposing pawn on an adjacent square, the opponent can take the first pawn by moving diagonally into the square passed over by the first pawn's double-step. If a player decides to take En passant, he must do so immediately following the double step move.

Castling

Under certain conditions, a king and a rook may move simultaneously in a move known as castling.
This is a move to a strong defensive position, and is worth making if you can.
In order to castle, the following conditions must be met: Neither the king nor the rook have yet moved in the game; there are no pieces in between the rook and the king; the king is not moving into check;
none of the opponent's pieces are able to attack any of the squares in between the king and the rook.
Provided these conditions are met, the castling move may take place.
The king moves two spaces towards the rook, and the rook moves over the king to the next square.

Step 7: Touching pieces

If a player touches one of their pieces, they must, if possible, move that piece. If they touch one of their opponent's pieces, they must, if possible, take that piece.

Step 8: Check and checkmate

When the king can be taken in the opponent's next move, he is said to be in check.
For example, black moves her knight into a position from which she will be able to take the white king in her next move.
White must now move her king or take the white knight to prevent her king being taken.
If there is a way to escape check, the player must take it - he may not leave his king in check at the end of the move.
If there is no way to escape capture, then checkmate is declared and the attacking player - in this case white - has won.
Neither player may make a move which leaves his own king in check. This is known as an illegal move.

Step 9: Alternative endings

The 50 move rule

If 50 moves of both white and black have been played without any pieces being taken or any pawn movement, then a player can claim a draw.

Stalemate

When a player is unable to make a legal move, but is not in check, it is called stalemate. In this case, a draw is declared.

Perpetual check

If the same position of pieces is repeated three times, a player can declare a draw. A player can force a draw by putting their opponent into perpetual check, thereby forcing them to repeat the same positions three times.

Proposing a draw

After making a move, a player may propose a draw. Their opponent does not have to accept.

Resignation

Either player at any time can choose to resign the game, in which case their opponent is declared the winner.

Have fun playing chess!