Video Tutorials
How to Play Chess - Basic Moves & Rules
This video covers the absolute basics of chess, from setting up the board to how each piece moves. Perfect for those just starting out!
Understanding Chess Notation
Learn how to read and write chess moves using algebraic notation. Essential for studying games, solving puzzles, and communicating with other players.
Basic Rules & Terms
How to Play Chess
Chess is a game played between two opponents on a checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an 8x8 grid. Each player starts with 16 pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. The goal is to 'checkmate' the opponent's king, meaning the king is under attack (in check) and has no legal way to escape.
- Setup: The board is set up so that each player has a light-colored square in their bottom-right corner. The queen always starts on her own color (white queen on white square, black queen on black square).
- Turns: White always moves first. Players take turns moving one piece per turn.
- Capturing: Pieces capture by moving to a square occupied by an opponent's piece, removing that piece from the board.
- Check: When a king is under attack, it is said to be in "check." The player whose king is in check must immediately move out of check.
- Checkmate: If a king is in check and there is no legal move to escape the attack, it's "checkmate," and the game ends.
- Stalemate: If a player has no legal moves but their king is NOT in check, it's a "stalemate," and the game is a draw.
Understanding the Chess Pieces
Pawn (♙)
Moves one square forward, but captures diagonally one square forward. On its first move, it can move two squares forward. It's the only piece that captures differently than it moves.
Rook (♖)
Moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically. It's a powerful piece, especially in the endgame.
Knight (♘)
Moves in an "L" shape: two squares in one direction (horizontal or vertical) and then one square perpendicular. It's the only piece that can jump over other pieces.
Bishop (♗)
Moves any number of squares diagonally. Each player has two bishops, one that stays on light squares and one that stays on dark squares.
Queen (♕)
The most powerful piece. It combines the moves of a rook and a bishop, moving any number of squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
King (♔)
Moves one square in any direction (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal). The king is the most important piece; its capture (checkmate) ends the game.
Key Chess Terms
- Check:
- When a king is directly attacked by an opponent's piece.
- Checkmate:
- When a king is in check and cannot escape the attack. This ends the game.
- Stalemate:
- When a player has no legal moves, but their king is not in check. The game is a draw.
- Castling:
- A special move involving the king and one of the rooks. It's the only time two pieces can move in one turn and the only time the king moves two squares.
- En Passant:
- A special pawn capture that can only occur immediately after an opponent's pawn moves two squares from its starting position and lands beside your pawn.
- Promotion:
- When a pawn reaches the opposite end of the board, it must be promoted to a queen, rook, bishop, or knight (usually a queen).
- Opening:
- The initial phase of the game, focused on developing pieces and controlling the center.
- Middlegame:
- The phase after the opening, where most of the strategic and tactical play occurs.
- Endgame:
- The final phase of the game, typically with few pieces remaining, where king activity and pawn promotion become crucial.