Checkmate! Played by humans and computers, in person and via correspondence, chess is one of those games that takes a minute to learn, but a lifetime to master. The first step on that lifelong journey is learning the basic rules of chess. More advanced rules and tactics are built on that foundation.
The Setup:
Two players face each other on opposite sides of a chess board. Each color has sixteen pieces: eight pawns, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, a queen, and a king. The object of the game is to capture enemy pieces while protecting your own, all in the effort to 'checkmate' the King.
Each player places all his pawns in his second row. The rooks are placed on the corners, followed by knights, and then bishops. The queen is placed 'on her color,' and the King is placed in the final spot.
The Moves:
White starts first. When white moves one piece, it is black's turn, and so on. Each piece is restricted in its movement. A piece (except the knight) cannot move through any other piece, nor can it end its turn sharing a space with a friend. If the piece ends its turn on an enemy's square, that enemy has been 'captured' and removed from the game. The capturing piece then replaces it.
Pawns: The pawn is a special piece. On its first move, a pawn can move either two or one spaces. On all other moves, it can only move one space forward. However, it can only capture diagonally. It also cannot move backward. Thus, if the pawn is blocked, it can no longer move forward. If a pawn moves to the last row on the opponent's side of the board, it is 'promoted' into any other piece (except a King).
Rooks: The rook can move any number of spaces forward, backward, or to the side.
Bishops: The bishop can move any number of spaces diagonally.
Knights: The Knight has a unique movement pattern. It moves in "L" shapes - various combinations of two spaces and one space. For example, a knight could move two to the left and one up; two up and one to the right; or one to the right and two down. The Knight can also jump over any pieces to reach its destination.
The Queen: The Queen is the best piece, as it can move any number of spaces forward, backward, to the side, or diagonally.
The King: This piece must be protected at all costs. It can only move one space in any direction. If the King is placed in 'check,' (i.e. the opponent is threatening to capture this piece next turn) you must move it or otherwise disrupt the check. If the check cannot be broken, it is a "checkmate," and the attacking player wins!
The Setup:
Two players face each other on opposite sides of a chess board. Each color has sixteen pieces: eight pawns, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, a queen, and a king. The object of the game is to capture enemy pieces while protecting your own, all in the effort to 'checkmate' the King.
Each player places all his pawns in his second row. The rooks are placed on the corners, followed by knights, and then bishops. The queen is placed 'on her color,' and the King is placed in the final spot.
The Moves:
White starts first. When white moves one piece, it is black's turn, and so on. Each piece is restricted in its movement. A piece (except the knight) cannot move through any other piece, nor can it end its turn sharing a space with a friend. If the piece ends its turn on an enemy's square, that enemy has been 'captured' and removed from the game. The capturing piece then replaces it.
Pawns: The pawn is a special piece. On its first move, a pawn can move either two or one spaces. On all other moves, it can only move one space forward. However, it can only capture diagonally. It also cannot move backward. Thus, if the pawn is blocked, it can no longer move forward. If a pawn moves to the last row on the opponent's side of the board, it is 'promoted' into any other piece (except a King).
Rooks: The rook can move any number of spaces forward, backward, or to the side.
Bishops: The bishop can move any number of spaces diagonally.
Knights: The Knight has a unique movement pattern. It moves in "L" shapes - various combinations of two spaces and one space. For example, a knight could move two to the left and one up; two up and one to the right; or one to the right and two down. The Knight can also jump over any pieces to reach its destination.
The Queen: The Queen is the best piece, as it can move any number of spaces forward, backward, to the side, or diagonally.
The King: This piece must be protected at all costs. It can only move one space in any direction. If the King is placed in 'check,' (i.e. the opponent is threatening to capture this piece next turn) you must move it or otherwise disrupt the check. If the check cannot be broken, it is a "checkmate," and the attacking player wins!
Read more about learning how to play chess here. Murray Savage learned how to play chess when he was 12 years old.Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Murray_Savage |