Games may also end in a draw if neither player can force a checkmate, such as if the kings are the only pieces left on the board. This is called a stalemate in chess. A game also automatically ends in a stalemate if the same board state is achieved 3 times. This can happen accidentally, but it’s more common when both players repeat the same move 3 times because nobody thinks they can win. [2] X Research source
After your queen, your two rooks are the most valuable offensive pieces in the game, although they’re excellent defensive pieces early on in the game.
Knights are considered just as valuable as bishops. They’re versatile pieces that are helpful when it comes to offense and defense. Knights are also unique because they’re the only piece outside of the pawns that you can move on the first turn of the game.
Like the knight, bishops are extremely diverse when it comes to their skills on offense or defense. Note that you have one bishop that can only move on black pieces, and another bishop that can only move on white pieces.
If you’re struggling to picture this, a queen moves like a bishop and a rook combined. Your queen is the single greatest tool when it comes to capturing your opponent’s king while protecting yours.
You can’t move your king into a space where it can get captured during the next turn. In other words, you cannot intentionally move your king into check.
Pawns can only attack by taking a piece that is 1 space away on a diagonal to the pawn. Your pawns are the shortest and weakest pieces in a game of chess. However, they’re extremely important. Your pawns help create space for other pieces, set up moves, and box in your opponent’s pieces.
For example, the left corner for the white player is a1 while the left corner for the black player is h8. Practice notation by listing each move you and your opponent make by writing down the piece and the square to which it moves. You do not need to use the rank and file notation system if you don’t want to, but it does make setting up the board and learning the game easier.
Use the rhyme, “white on the right” to help you remember while you’re setting up your game.
Rooks are labeled “R” if you’re using chess notation.
Knights are the only pieces that can jump over other pieces. Knights are labeled either as “N” or “Kt” in notation.
Bishops can’t move onto a square that isn’t the same color as its starting square. Label bishops as “B” if you’re using notation.
Queens are labeled as “Q” in notation. An easy way to remember how you orient the queen and king is the phrase, “The queen always gets her color. ”
Kings are labeled as “K” when you’re using notation.
Pawns are not labeled with any letter in notation.
If you’re playing multiple games in a row, alternate who starts with the white pieces to keep the games fair. The player with the white pieces has a slight advantage since they get to make the opening move. You can flip a coin, do rock paper scissors, or allow players to volunteer who goes first.
For the first few turns of the game, players usually move pawns, followed by knights and bishops. You can play in whatever order you’d like, though! In competitive chess there’s a rule that if you touch a piece, you have to move it. It’s okay to touch pieces as you’re just starting to learn, but practice moving the pieces in your mind once you’ve got the basics down.
When you capture your opponent’s piece, pick it up off of the board and set it aside. Pawns cannot capture pieces directly in front of them like other pieces do. Instead, pawns can only capture pieces that are 1 space diagonally in front of them. You cannot capture your opponent’s king. However, to win the game you need to set up your pieces so they would be able to capture the king.
Putting your opponent in check is ideal because it can cause them to drop whatever their gameplan was and move pieces to protect their king. It can also force the king into progressively riskier positions. The king can capture the enemy piece only if it’s not in check after the capture. If you’re in check, you must do something to protect your king, or else you make an illegal move.
You can only perform an en passant move during the turn after your opponent moves the pawn. You cannot wait to do it on any other turn after. This is probably the most complicated move in the game. If you’re new to chess and you’re just playing casually, feel free to skip this rule as you’re learning.
It doesn’t matter if your queen has already been captured or is still in the game when you promote your pawn. To indicate pawn promotion in chess notation, write the square where the pawn is promoted. Then, use an equal sign to show what the new piece is. For example, you may write c8=Q. Reasons to “underpromote” (i. e. not choose a queen) are to avoid stalemate or to utilize the knight’s move. This is pretty rare, though.
You cannot castle if your king was in check during the previous move, or if it would be in check after the move. You also cannot castle through any squares that are under attack by enemy pieces. You cannot castle rooks that have moved, or if your king has moved.
The king’s value is undefined as it cannot be captured. Compare the total value of all the pieces still on the board for each player to determine who has a material advantage (this is one way to determine who is “winning”). Point assessment is also useful when considering possible captures. For example, using pieces with a lower value to capture pieces with a higher value gives you more of an advantage.
When people talk about complex “openings” like the Queen’s Gambit, London Opener, or Sicilian Defense, they’re talking about a sequence of memorized moves that are proven to start you off right. These are known as book moves, and they’re a great way to improve at the game!
Keep 1 or 2 pawns in the center of the board so you can still use your stronger pieces to attack. This is why people often start the game by moving the 2 pawns in the middle of the pawn file and the 2 knights, since this covers the 4 squares at the center of the board.
It’s okay to give up a piece in order to draw your opponent into a trap where you’ll capture an even more valuable piece.
The exception here is your king and maybe a rook and a few pawns to protect it. It’s okay to leave them back for defense!
