Learn to play a chess game

Chessboard Battlefield 

Two individuals, given exactly the same number of chess pieces will do battle against each other via a chess game to determine which of them the best strategist is. Both players sit opposite each other with the playing field and chess set between them. The battlefield is represented by the chessboard which consists of 64 squares arranged in an 8 by 8 square arrangement (a checkers board can be used). The squares are alternately colored light and dark shades. The chess war uses chess soldiers or pieces instead of armies.

Each army has 16 chessmen lined up in the first 2 rows of the chessboard immediately in front of each player. Each player should have a light colored square at their right hand and a dark colored square at the left hand. The second row (away from each player) will contain the 8 foot soldiers otherwise known as Pawns and they form a protective line in front of the main army. In the row nearest to each player will be the main protagonists of the battle.

Placement

In each corner should be placed the Rook and beside each Rook should be a Knight. Working inwards place the Bishops beside the Knights. This will leave only 2 squares for the King and Queen and the Queen will always start on a square matching her own color. A white Queen will be on a white square and the black Queen on black. When the board has been laid out correctly the King will be facing the opposing King and the Queens will staring at each other too. The player of the white pieces always begins the game.

Movement

The Bishop moves diagonally in any direction and remains on squares matching its starting color. The Rooks move horizontally and vertically in any direction but never diagonally. The Queen is a combination of the Rook and Bishop in that she can move like either piece. The King too can move in this fashion but he is limited to only moving one square at a time. The Knight (a horse like chess piece) is the only piece that can jump over other pieces and land 3 squares away. Finally the Pawns move lethargically up the chessboard one square at a time. The exception is when the Pawn first moves when it is allowed move 2 squares.

Promotion

A pawn having successfully maneuvered itself to the opponent’s last rank will be promoted to a higher ranking piece. The promoted pawn immediately becomes a Queen, a Knight or a Bishop. In theory you could promote all your Pawns to Queens but this is practically impossible unless your opponent helps you to achieve it.

Objective

Chess is a strategy game which you win by killing the opponent’s King. This is the checkmate. When your King is checked or ‘in check’ this is a dire warning that checkmate may be around the corner. A game is drawn sometimes, usually called a stalemate, and this might occur if the only remaining pieces on the board were the 2 Kings. It is also allowable to offer the hand of friendship during the battle and an opponent may make the offer of a draw at any time during the play, which may or may not be accepted.

Suggestions

Buy a Staunton chess set (see image above) as it is the most stylish set known. Study the great games of the famous US grandmaster Bobby Fischer for hints, tips and lessons. Many books are available. Play chess against better players. Despite losing a great deal of the time to a stronger player, your chess game play technique will improve dramatically as a result.