Need an introduction to chess? Here you go:
Piece Movements
- The pawn (piece you have eight of) can be moved one space forwards.
The pawn can move two spaces forward only the first time it moves.
If a piece is one space ahead and to the side of a pawn, the pawn
is allowed to take it. - The rook (castle piece on the corners) can move in any horizontal or vertical direction.
- The horse (frequently called a knight) moves two spaces in any one
direction and then one space perpendicular from the first direction.
The knight is allowed to jump over pieces, unlike all the other pieces. - The bishop (piece with an egg on top) moves in any diagonal direction.
- The queen (unique piece starting on its own color) moves like a rook
OR like a bishop. - The
king (the leftover piece) moves one space in any direction.
The king is the most important piece!
If the other player takes your king, you lose the game.
You aren't allowed to make any move that lets your opponent take your king.
If you can't make any moves and are in check, that's checkmate and you lose.
If you aren't in check, that's stalemate and a draw.
Be careful not to stalemate your opponents!
Special Rules
En Passant (French for "in passing") is a frequently misunderstood
move. When an opponent moves a pawn two spaces, and you then hava a
pawn to the enemy pawn's side, you can use your subsequent move to
take the pawn, as if it had only moved one space.
Castling is also frequently misunderstood. You can only do it if you:
- Haven't moved your king, and haven't moved the rook you wish to
castle with; - Aren't in check, and the two spaces next to your king in the
direction you want to castle aren't in check; - There are no pieces between your king and the rook you wish to
castle with.
castle with, and move your rook immediately to the king's other
side.