How to Play Chess

To learn how to play chess is very simple, but mastering the game takes years of practice and commitment. The game is played on a board with 8 rows and 8 columns. There are two players, white and black. Each player has 16 pieces (how to use the pieces will be explained later). The goal of the game is to checkmate the other player's king. Before a king can be declared checkmated it must be in check. A king is in check when a piece of the opposite color's next move can attack the king. A checkmate is when the player's king is in check, the king cannot move without being in check, and the player cannot get out of check in any other way. Other ways may include taking the piece that has the king in check, or putting another piece in the way of the opposing piece that has the king in check. The player who has been checkmated loses the game.

How to Use the Pieces

Please refer to the image of the chess board above for reference of the pieces. In the picture, notice the different rows and columns. Each row has a number and each column has a letter. I will refer to a single chess piece by its row and column so you may see which one is which.

• Pawn - Row 7 column a. The pawn can move one square forward, or two squares forward on its first move. It can only attack diagonally. If the pawn reaches the other side of the board, it becomes a queen
• Knight - Row 8 column b. The knight can move two squares in a L shape.This can be two squared forward and one square to the left or right, or one square forward and two squares to the left or right. The Knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces
• Bishop - Row 8 column c. The bishop can move any number of squares in a diagonal line. Notice how each bishop for each player has a different color? These bishops must stay on that color the entire time.
• Rook - Row 8 column a. The rook can move any number of squares in a straight line.
• Queen - Row 8 column d.The queen can move any number of squares in any direction. The queen is the most powerful piece. Opponents will usually try to take the queen as fast as possible.
• King - Row 8 column e. The king can move one square in any direction. The most important piece in chess. The king is the only piece that cannot be taken by another piece. If the king is checkmated, the game is over.

Source: https://www.chess.com/learn/how-to-play-chess