How to play chess
Whether you're inspired by “The Queen’s Gambit” or simply looking for a new intellectual hobby, learning how to play chess is a timeless skill. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics so you can start playing with confidence.
🧩 The Basics: What You Need to Know
The Objective:
The goal in chess is to checkmate your opponent's king. This means the king is under threat of capture and cannot escape.
The Board:
Chess is played on an 8x8 board with 64 squares alternating between light and dark. Each player starts with 16 pieces:
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1 King
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1 Queen
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2 Rooks
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2 Bishops
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2 Knights
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8 Pawns
♟️ How Each Piece Moves
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Pawn: Moves forward one square, captures diagonally. On its first move, it can go two squares.
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Rook: Moves in straight lines horizontally or vertically.
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Knight: Moves in an “L” shape: two in one direction, then one at a right angle.
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Bishop: Moves diagonally.
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Queen: Moves in any direction—straight or diagonal.
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King: Moves one square in any direction.
🔁 Special Rules
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Castling: A one-time move that helps protect your king and develop your rook.
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En passant: A special pawn capture that can only happen under specific conditions.
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Promotion: When a pawn reaches the other end of the board, it can be promoted—usually to a queen.
🧠 Basic Strategy Tips
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Control the Center: Place your pieces to control the central squares (d4, d5, e4, e5).
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Develop Your Pieces Early: Get your knights and bishops into play quickly.
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Protect Your King: Always consider your king’s safety—castling early is usually wise.
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Don’t Bring Your Queen Out Too Soon: Develop minor pieces first.
🎯 How to Win: Checkmate!
Checkmate happens when the king is in a position to be captured ("in check") and cannot escape. Unlike other games, capturing all your opponent’s pieces isn't necessary—just trap the king.
