Beginners Guide To Chess
Page 1 - Introduction and movement of the pieces
Page 2 - Playing the game
Page 3 - Notation - recording a game
The Game
The game is played with 32 pieces on an 8x8 board. Each player has 16 pieces and the player with the White ones moves first. After that they alternate.
Chess Starting position
Introducing the Pieces:
The Pawn:
How the Pawn Moves
The Pawn moves one square forward unless its path is blocked by a piece. So the first two moves of a game could be as below. White has moved his pawn forward one square and Black has done the same.
2 Moves played: White and Black have both moved a pawn.
However the Pawn has one important option. When a Pawn is moved from its starting position - even if this occurs late in the game - that Pawn on its first move has the option of moving one square or two. Therefore White could open the game as follows. And of course Black could reply in the same manner.
One move played: White has taken the option to move 2 squares in one move with his pawn
The Pawn Capturing other pieces
All the pieces can capture enemy pieces. Once a piece is captured it leaves the board for the rest of the game. To capture an ememy piece you move your piece to the square occupied by the enemy piece. The captured piece is removed from the board, and the capturing piece remains on the square where the capture has taken place.
The pawn captures enemy pieces diagonally. The Pawn can take an enemy piece only if that piece is located on either of the diagonally-forward adjoining squares - one square forward to the right or left. In the following diagram the Black Bishop is one square forward to the right and can be captured by the white pawn.
Click to see the Pawn capture the Bishop
One final point. When the pawn arrives at the eighth rank, it can be replaced with any piece other than the King or Pawn, ie Queen, Rook, Bishop or Knight. Consequently a player can have more than 1 Queen, more than 2 rooks, 2 or more Bishops of the same colour and 3 or more Knights etc.
The Knight:
How the knight Moves
The Knight is the only piece that can leap over other pieces, his own or the opponent's. It moves in either of two ways:
1. one square forward or backwards and then two squares right or left.
2. one square right or left and then two squares forward or backward.
The knight Capturing other pieces
The Knight captures on the terminal square of his move. White's Knight has 8 possible moves, indicated by dots on the board below. On each of these squares he can capture a piece if there is one there. The piece then leaves the board for the remainder of the game.
Squares the Knight can move to
The Bishop:
How the Bishop Moves
The Bishop moves and captures diagonally. From its starting square the bishop can move diagonally as many squares as is desired or is possible. (i.e. unobstructed)
The Bishop Capturing other pieces
The Bishop captures the same way it moves.
The Two Bishops move diagonally
The Rook:
How the rook Moves
The rook moves forward and back and to each side any amount of squares. (i.e. unobstructed)
Therefore, on an empty board it has a choice of 14 possible moves.
The rook Capturing other pieces
The rook captures the same way it moves.
Squares the rook can move to
Before we examine the moves of the Queen and King, mention must be made of one very important and unusual procedure which can be performed by the rook in co-operation with the King.
If the first rank squares between the King and either rook are vacant, then the King and Rook can perform a manoeveur known as Castling. The King moves two squares to its right or left and the rook moves over the King to occupy the square that the King has moved over.
Click the links below to see Castling in action on both sides of the board. When the King moves to rook nearest to where the Queen starts the game then it is known as Queenside castling and when it moves to the rook nearest it's starting square then that is Kingside Castling.
This action can only take place if the following conditions are satisfied.
1. Neither the King nor the castling rook shall have moved perviously.
2. The square passed over, and the square arrived at by the King must not be under the threat of any hostile piece.
3. The King, at the moment of castling should not be in check.
The Queen:
How the queen Moves
The Queen is the most powerful piece on the board.
It can move in any direction any amount of squares. (i.e. unobstructed). Thus, from a central square on the board (see below), the queen has a choice of 27 possible moves.
The queen Capturing other pieces
The queen captures the same way it moves.
Squares the Queen can move to
The King:
How the king Moves
The King moves one square in any direction.
The king Capturing other pieces
The King captures the same way it moves.
Squares the King can move to
The King must not move or stay where he can be immediately captured. A move threatening the King is called is called a check, and this threat must be immediately countered: either by a move of the King, or by the interposition of a protecting piece or by capture of the checking piece. When there is no protection available the King is considered 'dead': checkmate: and the game is over.
Relative value of pieces
The following list shows the value of all pieces relative to a pawn and is essential when deciding when (and if) to exchange pieces.
9 : Queen
5 : Rook
3 : Bishop
3 : Knight
1 : Pawn
The King is missing because it can never be exchanged for another piece.
This guide to the value of pieces is only a rough rule of thumb. In many positions it is possible to 'sacrifice' material in order to gain advantages of position or to attack the enemy king. This is one of the charms of chess.
The Bishop and Knight are known as the minor pieces. The Queen and Rook are known as the major pieces. Winning a Rook for a minor piece is known as winning 'the exchange'.
