How a chess game works

1. Two players, White and Black, each start with 16 pieces. White moves first, then they take turns.
2. The game is won by checkmate: the opponent's king is attacked and has no legal way out. It is also won when the opponent resigns, or runs out of time on the clock.
3. A game can be drawn: by agreement, by stalemate (the player to move has no legal move and is not in check), by repetition or when neither side could ever give checkmate.
4. A win scores one point, a draw half a point. A tournament adds up the points over its rounds.

Reading the result

1-0 is a win for White, 0-1 a win for Black and ½-½ a draw.

How long

Each player has their own thinking time on a chess clock, which counts down only on their turn. Standard games give each player 60 minutes or more, rapid more than 10 and less than 60, and blitz 10 or less.