The Rules of Chess: An Introduction to the Basics

Author Information

Aline Heller has 3 Published Articles

United States of America,
Alabama,
Birmingham,
Maple Road 9,

The Rules of Chess: An Introduction to the Basics

Posted On : Jan-19-2012 | seen (653) times | Article Word Count : 729 |

The article describes the basic rules of chess. It gives details on the initial positioning of the pieces, and the allowable moves for each specific piece.

Welcome to the world of chess! This simplified tutorial will guide you to the basic rules of this classic strategy game. You'll be playing and enjoying the game in no time.

Chess is a game for two players played on a board with 64 alternating dark and light-colored squares. The two players decide between them who will take the white or the black set. Players take turns moving one of their pieces. The one with the white set always makes the first move. Each one gets an initial set of 16 pieces consisting of 1 king, 1 queen, 2 bishops, 2 knights, 2 rookies, and 8 pawns.

After placing the chessboard between them, each player needs to arrange his pieces on the two bottommost rows of squares nearest him. On the very last row, that is the row nearest to one player and furthest from his opponent, the pieces are arranged in a symmetrical order from the sides to the middle. The two rookies are each placed on the two squares in the corner. Each rookie will then have a knight beside it right on the next pair of squares. The bishops are positioned right beside the knights, and finally we'll have the king and the queen, at the two squares on the middle of the row. The king and queen have special rules concerning their positioning. If you have the light colored team, then your queen will be positioned on the last light colored square of that row. On the other hand, if you have the dark-colored set, then your queen will be positioned on the dark-colored center square of the last row. The last remaining square on the row, right beside the queen, is reserved for the king. All the pawns are arranged on the next raw, one pawn to each of the eight squares in front of the other pieces.

The chess pieces have some general and specific rules for movement. The general rules are as follows: No piece can move to a square occupied by another piece from the same team. However, they can displace and capture any piece from the other team that is occupying a square within their specific line of movement. All captured pieces are taken out of the game.

The specific movements of each piece are as follows.

1. The king can move in any direction, that is, vertical, horizontal, or diagonal, but only one square at a time.

2. The queen, like the king, can also move in any direction, but is more powerful in the sense that it can traverse across the board in a single direction, as long as no piece within her own team is blocking her way.

3. The bishops are also capable of long distance movement, but only diagonally, and only on the same color of squares as the ones where they were originally positioned at the start of the game.

4. The rookies can traverse unlimited number of squares in either vertical or horizontal direction, but not diagonally.

5. The knights move in an L-direction: two squares vertically, and a third square horizontally from the second square, or vice-versa, that is, two squares horizontally, and a third square, vertically from the second square. They can jump over other pieces as long as their landing position is empty or occupied by an opponent's piece.

6. Pawns have the most restricted movements. They can only move vertically forward one square at a time, except on their very first move, when they are allowed to move two squares forward. They cannot displace and capture an opponent's piece that is vertically in front of them. The only way they can capture a piece is if the enemy piece is positioned one square diagonally in front of them.

Pawns, however, have the distinct characteristic of being promoted if they reach the last row on the other side of the board. They can be promoted to the rank of any other piece, except that of the king. Players usually choose to promote a pawn to a queen.

The main goal of the game is to have the king in checkmate, that is, to trap the king in a position where he would have no way of eluding capture.

Re-Publish this Article

<h1>The Rules of Chess: An Introduction to the Basics</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Aline Heller.aspx'>Aline Heller</a> Welcome to the world of chess! This simplified tutorial will guide you to the basic rules of this classic strategy game. You'll be playing and enjoying the game in no time.

Chess is a game for two players played on a board with 64 alternating dark and light-colored squares. The two players decide between them who will take the white or the black set. Players take turns moving one of their pieces. The one with the white set always makes the first move. Each one gets an initial set of 16 pieces consisting of 1 king, 1 queen, 2 bishops, 2 knights, 2 rookies, and 8 pawns.

After placing the chessboard between them, each player needs to arrange his pieces on the two bottommost rows of squares nearest him.  On the very last row, that is the row nearest to one player and furthest from his opponent, the pieces are arranged in a symmetrical order from the sides to the middle.  The two rookies are each placed on the two squares in the corner. Each rookie will then have a knight beside it right on the next pair of squares. The bishops are positioned right beside the knights, and finally we'll have the king and the queen, at the two squares on the middle of the row. The king and queen have special rules concerning their positioning. If you have the light colored team, then your queen will be positioned on the last light colored square of that row. On the other hand, if you have the dark-colored set, then your queen will be positioned on the dark-colored center square of the last row. The last remaining square on the row, right beside the queen, is reserved for the king. All the pawns are arranged on the next raw, one pawn to each of the eight squares in front of the other pieces.

The chess pieces have some general and specific rules for movement. The general rules are as follows: No piece can move to a square occupied by another piece from the same team. However, they can displace and capture any piece from the other team that is occupying a square within their specific line of movement. All captured pieces are taken out of the game.

The specific movements of each piece are as follows.

1. The king can move in any direction, that is, vertical, horizontal, or diagonal, but only one square at a time.

2. The queen, like the king, can also move in any direction, but is more powerful in the sense that it can traverse across the board in a single direction, as long as no piece within her own team is blocking her way.

3. The bishops are also capable of long distance movement, but only diagonally, and only on the same color of squares as the ones where they were originally positioned at the start of the game.

4. The rookies can traverse unlimited number of squares in either vertical or horizontal direction, but not diagonally.

5. The knights move in an L-direction: two squares vertically, and a third square horizontally from the second square, or vice-versa, that is, two squares horizontally, and a third square, vertically from the second square.  They can jump over other pieces as long as their landing position is empty or occupied by an opponent's piece.

6. Pawns have the most restricted movements. They can only move vertically forward one square at a time, except on their very first move, when they are allowed to move two squares forward. They cannot displace and capture an opponent's piece that is vertically in front of them. The only way they can capture a piece is if the enemy piece is positioned one square diagonally in front of them.

Pawns, however, have the distinct characteristic of being promoted if they reach the last row on the other side of the board. They can be promoted to the rank of any other piece, except that of the king. Players usually choose to promote a pawn to a queen.

The main goal of the game is to have the king in checkmate, that is, to trap the king in a position where he would have no way of eluding capture.

About the Author: Aline Heller writes about recreation and leisure activities. To learn more about the rules of chess, go to <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.dp-db.com/grandmaster-strategy-video-training-library">Grandmaster Strategy Video Training Library</a>. For serious competitors, an alternative resource is <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.dp-db.com/get-psyched-for-sports-pregame-mental-strategies-to-perform-your-best">Get Psyched for Sports Pre-Game Mental Strategies to Perform Your Best</a>. Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The-Rules-of-Chess-An-Introduction-to-the-Basics_135865.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Rules of Chess: An Introduction to the Basics_135865.aspx</a>

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Rules of Chess: An Introduction to the Basics_135865.aspx

Author Resource :
Aline Heller writes about recreation and leisure activities. To learn more about the rules of chess, go to Grandmaster Strategy Video Training Library. For serious competitors, an alternative resource is Get Psyched for Sports Pre-Game Mental Strategies to Perform Your Best.

Keywords : chess rules, board games, how to play chess, chess for beginners,

Category : Recreation and Sports : Recreation and Sports

Print this Article Send to Friend