Chess Basics:Set Up the Board & Basic Rules

Chess Pieces

Pieces on the Board

White DiagramPiece

s Black DiagramPiece

s King Queen Bishop Knight Rook Pawn

King & Queen – Shape in Diagrams

• The King’s crown has a rounded shape– King’s have a cross on top of

their crown• The Queen’s crown has a

pointed shape

King Queen

Bishop - Shape in Diagrams

– The shape of the Bishop used in printed chess diagrams is based on the Bishop’s Mitre, a liturgical headpiece worn by the bishop when exercising his office.

– Two bands called “lappers” hang from the back of the mitre down onto the shoulders

A Bishops’ MitreClipart courtesy FCIT,

http://etc.usf.edu/clipart

Chess Bishopfor print diagrams

These are lappers, not “feet”

The cleft between the front and back of the Mitre became the diagonal cut in the Bishop chess piece.

Knight – Shape in Diagrams

• The shape of the Knight used in printed chess diagrams is the head of a Knight’s horse

Statue, Doncaster Knights Rugby Club© Copyright Dave Pickersgill and licensed for reuse

Chess Knightfor print diagrams

Rook – Shape in Diagrams

• The shape of the Rook used in printed chess diagrams is a circular tower from a castle

Winsor Castle© Derek A R., 2005 licensed for reuse

Chess Rookfor print diagrams

Pawn – Shape in Diagrams

• Swiss infantry formed pike squares of 100 infantry men in a 10 x 10 array, each holding a long pointed staff. A well-drilled pike square was impenetrable by cavalry and very mobile.

• Notice how the pikeman’s helmet and armor looks like a pawn

Pikeman’s Armor, 1600-1630 A.D.

Chess Pawnfor print diagrams

A Pike Square

Chess Basics

• How to Set Up the Chess Board • Basic Rules– How the Pieces Move– Rules for Castling– En Passant Pawn Captures– Checkmate – How a game is won– The Ways to Draw a Game

Setting Up a Chess Board

“White to the Right”• Put the White corner to the right side

Switching this can makea game invalid.

If the board has letters,They should read A-H for the White player.

Setting Up the Pieces

Queen On Her Color• White Queen is on a white square• Black Queen is on a shaded square

A lady wants her shoesto match her dress.

Check this before youstart the game.

Pieces in Alphabetical Order

Add the pieces inAlphabetical Order, going out from the King & Queen.• Bishops next to K & Q• Knights next to Bishops• Rooks in the Corners

Switching a Bishop anda Knight is a common mistake in setting up the board.

Add the Pawns in Front

Now the board is ready to play Chess !

Moving Rooks

Rooks move to vacant squares in a horizontal or vertical straight line.

Rooks must stop before their own pieces, or they can capture an opponent’s piece and occupy that square.

Moving Bishops

Bishops move to vacant squares in a diagonal straight line.

Bishops must stop before their own pieces, or they can capture an opponent’s piece and occupy that square.

Moving Knights

Knights move in an “L”, two squares in one direction and one square at a right angle.

Knights jump over pieces of any color.

Knights can capture opponent’s pieces, but not their own pieces.

Moving the QueenThe Queen combines the moves of the Rook and the Bishop. The Queen moves to vacant squares in a straight line.

The Queen must stop before her own pieces, or she can capture an opponent’s piece and occupy that square.

Moving the KingThe King moves one square in any direction, but cannot stay in or move to a square under attack by an opposing piece, or occupy a square that has one of his own pieces. The King may capture an unprotected piece, even if it is attacking him. Castling is done with both the King and Rook in the same move.

Moving PawnsPawns move forward, either one or two empty squares on their first move, and only one empty square after that.

Pawns may capture opponent’s pieces that are one diagonal square in front of it

A Pawn cannot capture a piece directly in front of it.

En Passant CapturePawns allowed able to take an opponent’s pawn “en passant” (French for “in passing”). When the opponent’s pawn moves two squares, the pawn can capture as if the pawn only moves one square. This en passant capture MUST be done immediately (on the very next move), or the option to capture this way is lost.

Pawn PromotionWhen a Pawn reaches the final rank, it is exchanged (in the same turn) for a Queen, Rook, Bishop or Knight of the same color.

1. a8=N is checkmate

1. a8=Q is stalemate

Rules for Castling

1. The King & Rook have not yet moved in the game

2. All squares between the King and Rook are empty

3. The King is not in check4. The King does not move to or move over a

square that is in check

Checkmate & When to Resign

• Checkmate is when one player’s King is threatened and there is no legal move to meet the threat.

• The player giving checkmate wins the game.• A player can resign when their position is

hopeless. It is a loss, but it saves time & shows they knew they lost.

4 Ways to Draw a Game

1. By agreement with your opponent2. Repeating the same position three (3) times,

with the same person to move and the same possible moves

3. Stalemate: The player to move has no legal moves and is not in check

4. The 50-Move Rule: 50 moves without a check or a piece being captured

About Draws

• To request a draw, 1) You must be the player to move, 2) Make your move, and 3) Offer a draw before touching the clock. The offer is considered on your time, not your opponent’s time.

• If your opponent offers a draw, he often thinks he is losing. Check what winning chances you have.

50-Move Draw ExampleThe opposite-color Bishops can avoid each other, and avoid capture by the King forever.

This will be a draw eventually, if one is not offered and accepted. Trying to win on time can be challenged by appeal to the director.