💡 How-To
The Rules of Chess: How to Set Up the Board and Play
Chess is the world's most popular strategy game " — and easier to learn than you think. Here's how to set up the board, move every piece, and win your first game.
Board Setup
- White in bottom right: The board should have a light square in the bottom-right corner
- White pieces on rows 1-2, Black on rows 7-8
- Back row (left to right): Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen, King, Bishop, Knight, Rook
- Queen goes on her color: White queen on white square, black queen on black square
- Pawns fill row 2 (white) and row 7 (black)
How Each Piece Moves
| Piece | Movement | Value | Special Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pawn | Forward 1 (or 2 on first move), captures diagonally | 1 | En passant, promotion |
| Rook | Any number of squares horizontally or vertically | 5 | Castling (with King) |
| Knight | L-shape: 2+1 squares in any direction | 3 | Only piece that jumps over others |
| Bishop | Any number of squares diagonally | 3 | Stays on same color forever |
| Queen | Any number of squares in any direction | 9 | Most powerful piece |
| King | One square in any direction | Infinite | Cannot move into check |
Special Moves
Castling
- King moves 2 squares toward rook, rook jumps over king
- Only if: neither piece has moved, no pieces between them, king not in check, king doesn't pass through check
En Passant
- If a pawn moves 2 squares forward and lands beside your pawn, you can capture it as if it moved only 1 square
- Must be done immediately on the next move
Pawn Promotion
- When a pawn reaches the opposite end of the board, it promotes to any piece (usually queen)
How to Win
- Check: King is under attack " — must escape immediately
- Checkmate: King is in check and cannot escape " — game over
- Stalemate: Not in check but no legal moves " — game is a draw
- Draw: 50-move rule, threefold repetition, or insufficient material
Beginner strategy: Control the center (e4, d4, e5, d5). Develop pieces before attacking. Don't move the same piece twice in the opening. Castle early for king safety. The center is the most important area of the board.
⚠️ Beginner mistakes to avoid:
- Don't bring the queen out early " — it gets chased around and wastes tempo
- Don't forget to castle " — leaving the king in the center is dangerous
- Don't capture with the king " — it can't recapture if the opponent has support
- Don't ignore threats " — always check if your pieces are under attack
The bottom line: Set up: rooks in corners, knights next, bishops, queen on her color, king on remaining square. Pawns fill row 2. Learn piece movements first, then special moves (castling, en passant, promotion). Win by checkmating the king. Practice on chess.com or lichess.org for free.