THE CHESSBOARD IS YOUR KINGDOM
Chess was invented long ago. The names we use for the pieces date from the Middle Ages. In those days, kingdoms were ruled by Kings and Queens. They lived in castles and had Bishops to advise them. They also had brave Knights to defend them. Even the peasants helped to defend the kingdom.
How To Read and Write Chess Moves
All new players should learn to keep score using what is called “algebraic” notation. In the diagram that follows, you will notice that the board includes the numbers 1 - 8 along the right edge and the letters “a” - “h” along the bottom of the board. We can use the combination of one letter and one number to describe each square on the chessboard.
Capital letter: K: King Q: Queen R: Rook B: Bishop N: Knight
Note that “P” is not used. Chess players have agreed that a move without a letter - such as e4 - is understood to be a pawn move.
You are almost ready to start using chess notation. Just pay attention to the following symbols:
X Take or capture
# or ++ Checkmate
O-O Castles King side
! Good move
O-O-O Castles Queen side
? Bad move
+ Check
?? Blunder
Let’s put into practice what we’ve just learned. We will use the famous Scholar’s Mate.
Chess Terms - Files, Ranks and Diagonals:
Files are the rows of squares that run up and down the chessboard.
Ranks are the rows of squares that run across the chessboard.
Diagonals are the rows of squares that run at a slant on the chessboard.
The Chessmen:
Your army and that of your opponent
Each side has 16 men, 8 pieces and 8 pawns.
The first rule of chess is that WHITE moves first.
Each side has 8 Pawns
Each side has 2 Knights
Each side has 2 Bishops
Each side has 2 Rooks
Each side has 1 Queen
Each side has 1 King
How the Pawn moves and captures
A pawn can move straight ahead one or two squares on its first move. After that, it can move only one square at a time, even if it didn't go two squares on its first move.
The pawn, like the foot-soldier in war, marches forward one square at a time. Unlike the other pieces, the pawn can NEVER retreat. Pawns that have not yet moved have the option of beginning their forward journey with a double move two-squares forward. The pawns may not jump other pieces or pawns.
The pawn captures differently from the way it moves.
The pawn captures diagonally one square ahead, as if it were fighting on its side with a short sword.
In the first diagram, the white pawn can move to any of the squares marked with an "X" By contrast, the black pawn, having already moved, has only one option.
The white pawn can move straight ahead, or else capture the black Knight or the black Bishop. Meanwhile, the black pawn is about to move to the end of the board. When a pawn reaches the last rank, it becomes another piece! In most situations, it will become a Queen; you may not leave it as a pawn, and you may not promote it into a King. As a result of pawn promotion, it is possible to have many Queens on the board at the same time, or other chosen pieces!
We assign a value to each chessman, using the pawn as the lowest unit.
There is no chess rule concerning this, but it will make it easier to play a game if you have some idea of the relative value of the chessmen, particularly when you need to make a decision regarding exchanging one of your men for one of your opponent's.
MORE ABOUT PAWNS
Pawns cannot jump over other pawns or pieces.
If blocked, a pawn can't move straight ahead until the other pawn or piece gets out of the way.
The Bishop, however, is immune from capture as the pawn may only capture diagonally.
THE KNIGHT
Each side has 2 Knights
The Knight moves in an “L” shape, two squares forward and one to the side, or two squares sideways and one forward, or two square backwards and one to the side. The Knight may jump over friendly and enemy pieces without having any effect on the men it passes over. The Knight captures any enemy piece or pawn it lands on. We assign the Knight a notional value, just as we did for the pawn.
THE BISHOP
Each side has 2 Bishops, How the Bishop moves?
The Bishop, moves diagonally (at a slant) stopping at any empty square, according to choice.
The Bishop may capture any enemy piece or pawn in its path.
We assign the Bishop a notional value, just as we did for the Knight.
THE ROOK
Each side has 2 Rooks, How the Rook moves?
The Rook, moves horizontally and vertically in straight lines stopping at any empty square, according to choice. The Rook may capture any enemy piece or pawn in its path.
We assign the rook a notional value, just as we did for the pawn.
THE QUEEN
Each side has 1 Queen, How the Queen moves?
The Queen moves horizontally and vertically and diagonally, stopping at any empty square, according to choice. Another way to look at this is to say that the Queen combines the powers of the Rook and bishop. The Queen may capture any enemy piece or pawn in its path.
Note: At the start of each game, the Queen stands on a square of her own color - Black Queen on a black square, White Queen on a white square.
We assign the Queen a notional value, just as we did for the pawn.
THE KING
Each side has 1 King. How the King moves
The King moves only one square in any direction - horizontally, vertically or diagonally. The King may capture any enemy piece or pawn in its path.
It is against the rules to move the King onto a square where it can be captured. If you do this by accident, we say that the move is illegal. The illegal move must be taken back, and a legal move must be played instead.
Good
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