Every chess master was once a beginner. Irving Chernev.

Introduction to Chess

Every chess master was once a beginner.

Irving Chernev

Basic rules of chess:

White always starts

One square – one piece

Players shake hands before and after games.

How to Set Up the Board and Pieces

The Board

White on the right!

The Pawn

White pawns start on rank 2, black pawns on rank 7.

Pawns can move only one space forward at any time except for their first move when each pawn has the choice of moving one or two spaces forward.

Pawns can capture other pieces by moving one space diagonally to the left or right.

The Pawn

To decide colours of each player

When colours are decided, white always moves first.

Chess Toss

The Pawn Game

First player to get ONE pawn to the other side wins.

You win the game:a) if your opponent gives up; orb) if you are the first to capture all your opponent's pawns; orc) if you are the first to reach the last rank (i.e. your opponent's first rank) with one of your pawns; ord) if it is your opponent's turn to move but all her pawns are blocked and do not have any moves, while you yourself can make at least one move.

The game is a draw:a) if the two players agree to call it a draw; orb) if both sides pawns are blocked up so that neither side can make any moves.

Other rules:a) If you touch one of your own men when it is your turn to move, you must move it.b) If you touch one of your opponent's men, you must capture it if you can.c) Once you make a move, you cannot change it so think carefully.

The Pawn Game

The Rook

The Rooks begin on the extreme corners of the board.

The rook moves horizontally and vertically any number of squares, forwards or backwards.

A Rook cannot move through or jump pieces but can capture opposition pieces in its way.

The Rook

Rook Challenge

First player to get ONE pawn to the other side wins.

8 white pawns v’s one black rook Chess toss for colour. White moves first as always. White wins if it gets one of its pawns to the

rank 8 Black wins if it captures all 8 white pawns Switch sides after first game. Incorporate time or remove pawns to

differentiate.

Rook Challenge

The Knight

The knights start next to the rooks.

The knight moves in an L shape in any direction. So it can move 2 squares sideways and one square up or down or one square sideways and 2 squares up or down.

Just like a real horse, the knight can jump other pieces to get where it wants to go.

The Knight

The Knight

O Lonely Knight GameWhite wins if one pawn reaches the other side.

Black wins if it captures all white pieces or stops it reaching the other side.

Dark Knight Game

First player to get ONE pawn to the other side wins.

White:3 pawns (B2, D2, F2) with knight (G1) and rook (A1).

Black: 3 pawns (C7, E7, G7), knight (B8), and rook (H8)

Object of the game is to get one pawn to the opposite side (rank 8 for white, rank 1 for black).

Regular chess rules apply but en passant is not enforced.

The Dark Knight Game

If a knight starts on a light coloured square it will always finish on a dark coloured square (after completing it’s L shape move). Similarly if it starts on a dark coloured square it will finish on a light coloured square.

Try it out!

Interesting Knight Fact

The Bishop

The bishop begins next to the knight.

The bishop moves diagonally any number of spaces, forwards or backwards.

Bishops will only ever move on their starting colour.

The bishop can be blocked by other pieces.

The Bishop

Bishops Rule! White wins if it gets one pawn to the other side of the board

Black wins if it captures all white pieces or stops it reaching the other side.

Chess Without Royalty

First player to capture one opposition knight wins.

The Queen

The queen starts next on its own colour (white – D1, black – D8)

The queen is the most powerful piece on the board.

She can move straight or diagonally any number of squares.

The queen can be blocked however by other pieces.

The Queen

The King

The king starts next to the queen.

It is the most important piece on the chessboard!

The king can move one space in any direction.

The king can never move onto a square that is being attacked. The king can capture other pieces.

The King

The board – letters close to you, white on the right

Pawns – ranks 2 and 7 Rooks, knights and bishops Queen – on its own colour (light or dark) King – next to queen

Remember the 5 Steps

Early ChessFirst player to capture the opposition King wins.

This is NOT proper chess!!!

No Pawn Chess

First player to capture the opposition King wins.

Loser ChessFirst player to lose all their pieces wins!

If you can capture you must capture!