This article was co-authored by Sahaj Grover and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Sahaj Grover is a Chess Grandmaster, World Champion, and coach, who attained his Grandmaster title at the age of 16. He has been a World Junior Bronze Medalist, World U10 Champion, South African Open 2017 & 2018 Champion, and the Winner of the Arnold Classic 2018 & 2019. Sahaj is known for dynamic attacking skills and being an excellent endgame player.
There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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Want to learn how to play chess? Trying to refresh yourself on the rules after a long break? Chess is a very popular two-player strategy game thought to have originated in India many centuries ago. To win the game, you must "checkmate" your opponent by moving your pieces such that the opponent's king faces a threat of capture that can't be eliminated. Although it has a set of easily comprehended rules, it takes strategy in order to defeat a skilled opponent. Read on to learn everything you’d ever need to know about playing chess!
Things You Should Know
- The aim of chess is to capture your opponent’s king; however, most chess games end as soon as the opponent's king is in a position such that they cannot escape without being captured (known as "checkmate").
- Familiarize yourself with the basics by going over how each piece moves.
- Practice playing online and against others to develop your skills and improve at the game.
Steps
Chess Help
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat if the opponent doesn't move the way I wish?Community AnswerYou need a strong defense and to be prepared for almost anything. One of the main strategies of chess is forcing your opponent into a situation where, no matter what he or she does, you are given an advantage, such as capturing a piece or securing a better position.
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QuestionWhat are promoted pawns?DonaganTop AnswererThese are pawns that have reached their eighth row (the opponent's first row) and have been converted to some other piece such as a queen.
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QuestionCan the rook and king move together?Community AnswerUnder certain conditions, yes. It is known as castling and is very useful. It was one of the few changes made in the last millennium.
Video
Reader Videos
Tips
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Keep playing and practicing to get better at chess. You can play the computer or other players online for free at Chess.com or Lichess.org.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.chessmatec.com/chess-rules-for-kids-checkmate
- ↑ https://www.chess.com/terms/threefold-repetition-chess
- ↑ https://www.chesspower.co.nz/uploads/88770/files/How_To_Write_Chess_Moves_v1.0.pdf
- ↑ https://www.chesspower.co.nz/uploads/88770/files/How_To_Write_Chess_Moves_v1.0.pdf
- ↑ https://www.buffalolib.org/sites/default/files/gaming-unplugged/inst/1%20Basic%20Chess%20Instructions.pdf
- ↑ https://www.buffalolib.org/sites/default/files/gaming-unplugged/inst/1%20Basic%20Chess%20Instructions.pdf
- ↑ https://www.buffalolib.org/sites/default/files/gaming-unplugged/inst/1%20Basic%20Chess%20Instructions.pdf
- ↑ https://www.boardspace.net/chess/english/BasicChessRules.pdf
- ↑ https://www.boardspace.net/chess/english/BasicChessRules.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/NPyuNpYfrDc?t=68
- ↑ https://www.chessstrategyonline.com/content/tutorials/how-to-start-a-game-of-chess-first-moves-white
- ↑ https://www.fide.com/FIDE/handbook/LawsOfChess.pdf
- ↑ https://www.fide.com/FIDE/handbook/LawsOfChess.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/2oQCDKipoyM?t=39
- ↑ https://www.boardspace.net/chess/english/BasicChessRules.pdf
- ↑ https://www.chess.com/learn-how-to-play-chess
- ↑ https://www.boardspace.net/chess/english/BasicChessRules.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/UMSAhUzyqyI?t=62
- ↑ https://dwheeler.com/chess-openings/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/UoFqV1lxA7Q?t=29
- ↑ https://www.nature.com/articles/news040802-19
- ↑ https://chessmaine.net/chessmaine/Ian%20Youth's%20A%20Beginner's%20Chess%20Workbook%202015.pdf
About This Article
To set up a chess board, place all of the white pieces on one side and all of the black pieces on the other side. Your pieces should be arranged in two rows: the back row should contain all of your special pieces, and the front row should contain all of your pawns. Pawns are the short pieces, and they can only move forward, one square at a time. However, when you capture a piece with a pawn, the pawn moves diagonally. To organize the back row, place the rooks, or towers, on either end. Rooks can only move vertically or horizontally, but they can move as many squares as you want. Then, place the two knights, which usually look like horses, beside the two rooks. The knights can only move in an L-shaped pattern, where the long part of the L is two squares and the short part is one square. Knights are the only pieces on the board that can “jump” over other pieces. Then, place the two bishops beside the knights. The bishops can only move diagonally, but they can move as many squares as you want. Finally, place the king and queen. If you’re looking at the board, the queen should be placed on the left and the king should be placed on the right. The queen can move vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, and she can move as many spaces as you want. The king can move in any direction as well, but he can only move one square at a time. The goal in chess is to capture the opponent’s king while protecting your own — the first player to capture their opponent’s king wins!
Reader Success Stories
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"I did not understand the game of chess. Someone once tried to explain it to me, but to no avail. This article is so helpful with clear explanations and diagrams which, to me, are like photographs I can imprint on my brain. Also, I can come back to the article as I make progress with the game. A very helpful article."..." more