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Chess is a board game that has been around for centuries. The game is thought to have originated in India, and it quickly spread to other parts of the world. Today, chess is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. If you're new to the game, this beginner's guide will teach you the basics of how to play.
The Board
Chess is played on a square board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. The squares are alternate dark and light colors, typically black and white. Each player has 16 pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. The pieces are traditionally carved from wood or ivory, but they can also be made from plastic or other materials.
The Objective
The objective of chess is to checkmate your opponent's king. Checkmate occurs when the king is under attack and there is no way to defend it. Checkmate ends the game, and the player who achieves it wins.
How to Play
Players take turns moving one piece at a time. With the exception of the knight, pieces can only move in straight lines—forward, backward, or sideways. The knight is the only piece that can move in an L-shaped pattern (two squares horizontally followed by one square vertically, or vice versa).
Certain pieces have special abilities:
The rook can move any number of spaces along its row or column.
The bishop can move any number of spaces diagonally.
The queen can move any number of spaces along its row, column, or diagonal.
The king can move one space in any direction—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. However, the king cannot move into check (see below).
Pawns can only move forward one space at a time (except on their first turn when they have the option to move two spaces). Pawns cannot move sideways or backward—only forward. Additionally, pawns can only capture an opponent's piece by moving one space diagonally forward (not horizontally or vertically).
En Passant
Castling
Check and Checkmate
As mentioned above, checkmate occurs when the king is under attack and there is no way to defend it. Check occurs when the king is under attack but could be defended if the player so chooses. When either checkmate or check occurs, it must be announced aloud (e.g., "I have you in check," or "You're in checkmate"). If a player fails to announce checkmate or check after making a move that puts their opponent's king in danger, their opponent may request that the last move be reversed so that they may defend their king.
Stalemate
Now that you know the basics of how to play chess, why not give it a try? Chess is a great game for developing strategic thinking skills and exercising your brain power. So grab a board and some friends (or family members) and start playing!
The Board
Chess is played on a square board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. The squares are alternate dark and light colors, typically black and white. Each player has 16 pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. The pieces are traditionally carved from wood or ivory, but they can also be made from plastic or other materials.
The Objective
The objective of chess is to checkmate your opponent's king. Checkmate occurs when the king is under attack and there is no way to defend it. Checkmate ends the game, and the player who achieves it wins.
How to Play
Players take turns moving one piece at a time. With the exception of the knight, pieces can only move in straight lines—forward, backward, or sideways. The knight is the only piece that can move in an L-shaped pattern (two squares horizontally followed by one square vertically, or vice versa).
Certain pieces have special abilities:
The rook can move any number of spaces along its row or column.
The bishop can move any number of spaces diagonally.
The queen can move any number of spaces along its row, column, or diagonal.
The king can move one space in any direction—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. However, the king cannot move into check (see below).
Pawns can only move forward one space at a time (except on their first turn when they have the option to move two spaces). Pawns cannot move sideways or backward—only forward. Additionally, pawns can only capture an opponent's piece by moving one space diagonally forward (not horizontally or vertically).
En Passant
Castling
Check and Checkmate
As mentioned above, checkmate occurs when the king is under attack and there is no way to defend it. Check occurs when the king is under attack but could be defended if the player so chooses. When either checkmate or check occurs, it must be announced aloud (e.g., "I have you in check," or "You're in checkmate"). If a player fails to announce checkmate or check after making a move that puts their opponent's king in danger, their opponent may request that the last move be reversed so that they may defend their king.
Stalemate
Now that you know the basics of how to play chess, why not give it a try? Chess is a great game for developing strategic thinking skills and exercising your brain power. So grab a board and some friends (or family members) and start playing!
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