What you can't watch without
The rules you will see every few minutes, in the order you meet them. Each opens on its answer.
B · Beginner · 10 rules · Step 1 of 3The board and the pieces
- How do you set up a chessboard?Place the board so that each player has a white square in the near right-hand corner.
- How does each chess piece move?The rook moves along ranks and files, the bishop along diagonals and the queen along all three, each as far as the way is clear.
- How does a pawn move in chess?A pawn moves one square straight forward, and only if that square is empty.
- How does castling work in chess?Castling is one move that uses two pieces.
- What happens when a pawn reaches the other side of the board?A pawn that reaches the furthest rank must be exchanged, as part of the same move, for a queen, rook, bishop or knight of its own colour.
Winning and drawing
- What is check in chess?A king is in check when an opponent's piece attacks it.
- How do you win a game of chess?A game is won by checkmate: the opponent's king is in check and there is no legal move to get it out.
- How do you offer a draw in chess?A game is drawn if both players agree.
- How are chess games scored?A win scores one point, a draw half a point and a loss nothing, unless an event's regulations say otherwise.