Chess

Chess Basics:
Set Up the Board & Basic Rules

Chess Pieces
Pieces
on the
Board

King

Queen

Bishop

Knight

Rook

Pawn

White
Diagra
mPiece
s
Black
Diagra
mPiece
s

King & Queen Shape in

Diagrams
The Kings crown has a

rounded shape
Kings have a cross on
top of their crown

The Queens crown has

a pointed shape

King

Queen

Bishop - Shape in
Diagrams

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

These are
lappers, not
feet

Chess Bishop
Clipart courtesy FCIT,
for print
http://etc.usf.edu/clipart
The shape of the Bishop used in printed
diagrams
chess diagrams
is based on the Bishops 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 Mitre

Knight Shape in
Diagrams

Statue, Doncaster Knights Rugby

Club
Copyright Dave Pickersgill and
licensed for reuse

Chess Knight
for print
diagrams

The shape of the Knight used in printed chess

diagrams is the head of a Knights horse

Rook Shape in Diagrams

Winsor Castle
Derek A R., 2005 licensed for
reuse

Chess Rook
for print
diagrams

The shape of the Rook used in printed chess

diagrams is a circular tower from a castle

Pawn Shape in Diagrams

Chess Pawn
for print
mharrsch, licensed for reuse
diagrams
Swiss infantry formed pike squares of 100
infantry men in a 10 x

Pikemans Armor, 1600-1630

A.D.

10 array, each holding a long pointed staff. A well-drilled pike

square was impenetrable by cavalry and very mobile.
Notice how the pikemans helmet and armor looks like a pawn

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
make
A game invalid.
If the board has
letters,

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
shoes
to match her dress.
Check this before you
start the game.

Pieces in Alphabetical
Order
Add the pieces in
Alphabetical Order,
going out from the
King & Queen.
Bishops next to K &
Q
Knights next to
Bishops
Rooks in the Corners
Switching a Bishop and
a Knight is a common
mistake in setting up
the board.

Add the Pawns in Front

Now the board is
ready to play Chess
!

Rules for Setting Up Board

White (corner) to the Right
Queen on Her Color
Add Pieces Alphabetically from the

Center
Pawns in Front

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
opponents 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
opponents 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
opponents pieces,
but not their own
pieces.

Moving the Queen

The 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
opponents piece
and occupy that

The 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.

Moving the King

The King may

capture an
unprotected piece,
even if it is
attacking him.
Castling is done with
both the King and

Moving Pawns

Pawns move forward,

either one or two
empty squares on
their first move, and
only one empty
square after that.
Pawns may capture
opponents pieces
that are one diagonal
square in front of it
A Pawn cannot
capture a piece
directly in front of it.

En Passant Capture
Pawns allowed able to take
an opponents pawn en
passant
(French for in passing).
When the opponents pawn
moves two squares, the
pawn can captures 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

Pawn Promotion
When 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 check
4. The King does not move to or move
over a square that is in check

Checkmate & When to

Resign
Checkmate is when one players 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 opponent
2. 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 opponents time.
If your opponent offers a draw, he
often thinks he is losing. Check what
winning chances you have.

50-Move Draw Example

The 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.

You may start practicing..

Page 28

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2011