How to play chess?How to play chess?

By Mervyn GeorgeBy Mervyn George

The Rules of the GameThe Rules of the Game

• White always move firstWhite always move first• You should always play touch a piece You should always play touch a piece

move a piecemove a piece• If you touch one of your pieces, you If you touch one of your pieces, you

much move it if legally possiblemuch move it if legally possible• If you touch one of your opponents If you touch one of your opponents

pieces, you must take it, if legally pieces, you must take it, if legally possible, you cannot change your possible, you cannot change your mind!mind!

Do not Rush your moves (1)Do not Rush your moves (1)

• If you want to win, you must work out If you want to win, you must work out what your opponent is trying to dowhat your opponent is trying to do

• You then need to stop them doing it, You then need to stop them doing it, or have a better planor have a better plan

• Think of a move, park it in your mindThink of a move, park it in your mind• Look around the board for a better Look around the board for a better

move, and if you cannot find one, do move, and if you cannot find one, do the first move you thought ofthe first move you thought of

Do not Rush your moves (2)Do not Rush your moves (2)

• Your thinking time is when it is your Your thinking time is when it is your movemove

• And when it is your opponents move?And when it is your opponents move?

• When they have moved, you should stop When they have moved, you should stop and think, almost like crossing the roadand think, almost like crossing the road

• You should ask yourself, why did they You should ask yourself, why did they make that move, what are they trying to make that move, what are they trying to do?do?

Do not Rush your moves (3)Do not Rush your moves (3)

• Once you have worked out what they Once you have worked out what they are trying to doare trying to do

• You can then start thinking what you You can then start thinking what you are going to do.are going to do.

• Do not immediately make the move Do not immediately make the move you thought about, before they made you thought about, before they made theirs’theirs’

• It may not now be safe? It may not now be safe?

Set the board upSet the board up

• Ensure the white square is on the Ensure the white square is on the right hand sideright hand side

• Whites go on line one and twoWhites go on line one and two

• The queen starts on it’s own colourThe queen starts on it’s own colour

• Remember the king is always the Remember the king is always the tallest piece on the boardtallest piece on the board

How many points are the How many points are the pieces worth?pieces worth?

• Pawn Pawn = 1 point (P)= 1 point (P)

• Knight (Horse)Knight (Horse) = 3 points (KN)= 3 points (KN)

• BishopBishop = 3 points (B)= 3 points (B)

• Rook (Castle)Rook (Castle)= 5 points (R)= 5 points (R)

• QueenQueen = 9 points (Q)= 9 points (Q)

• King = X points (K)King = X points (K)

Here is how the board is laid Here is how the board is laid out at the start of the gameout at the start of the game

Ensure the Ensure the pieces are pieces are in the in the correct correct place.place.

RR KNKN BB QQ KK BB KKNN

RR

PP PP PP PP PP PP PP PP

PP PP PP PP PP PP PP PP

RR KNKN BB QQ KK BB KKNN

RR

What do the pieces look What do the pieces look like?like?• The Pawn The Pawn

The Castle or RookThe Castle or Rook

The Knight or HorseThe Knight or Horse

The BishopThe Bishop

The QueenThe Queen

The KingThe King

Why do I need to know how Why do I need to know how many points the pieces are many points the pieces are worth? worth? • If you are going to take a piece, how If you are going to take a piece, how

many points will you win?many points will you win?

• Will you then be taken by your Will you then be taken by your opponent?opponent?

• Will you gain or loose points?Will you gain or loose points?

• If you gain points, then you have If you gain points, then you have made a good move.made a good move.

How much is the King How much is the King worth?worth?

• You are not allowed to take the King.You are not allowed to take the King.

• It does not have any points.It does not have any points.

• If you cannot stop the King being If you cannot stop the King being taken that is the end of the game.taken that is the end of the game.

What do you say when you What do you say when you attack a King?attack a King?

•Check!Check!

What does Check Mean?What does Check Mean?

• It means that your King is about to It means that your King is about to be taken!be taken!

• The person you are playing must tell The person you are playing must tell you when they are about the take you when they are about the take your King!your King!

• Instead of saying, excuse me , I am Instead of saying, excuse me , I am about to take your King every time about to take your King every time they are attacking it, which is silly, they are attacking it, which is silly, your opponent says check. your opponent says check.

When Check is CalledWhen Check is Called

• Your opponent must get out of Your opponent must get out of check or loose the gamecheck or loose the game

• They must either:They must either:

Take the piece which called checkTake the piece which called check

Put a piece in front of the King Put a piece in front of the King Move the King so that it is not in Move the King so that it is not in check check

What is Check MateWhat is Check Mate

• Check Mate is when you attack your Check Mate is when you attack your opponents King.opponents King.

• If they cannot get out of check, then If they cannot get out of check, then this is known as Check Mate and you this is known as Check Mate and you have won the game.have won the game.

How Do The Pieces Move?How Do The Pieces Move?

• The Pawn can only move forwardThe Pawn can only move forward

• It can only move one space at a time, It can only move one space at a time, however on it’s first move it can however on it’s first move it can move two squares if you wish.move two squares if you wish.

• The Pawn can however move one The Pawn can however move one square in a forward direction, to the square in a forward direction, to the right or left when taking an right or left when taking an opponent.opponent.

Pawn PromotionPawn Promotion

• As the Pawn goes up the board it gets As the Pawn goes up the board it gets stronger and strongerstronger and stronger

• If you manage to get it to the top of the If you manage to get it to the top of the board, you can replace it with what ever board, you can replace it with what ever piece you wishpiece you wish

• People normally replace the pawn with a People normally replace the pawn with a queen. It goes on the square the pawn was queen. It goes on the square the pawn was previously onpreviously on

• You can have as many queens as you wantYou can have as many queens as you want

How the Pawn movesHow the Pawn moves

• A pawn moves one A pawn moves one space forward at a space forward at a timetime

• On it’s first move, it On it’s first move, it can move two can move two spaces if you wishspaces if you wish

• It can take an It can take an opponent by moving opponent by moving one square one square diagonally to the diagonally to the right or left. right or left.

RR KKNN

BB QQ KK BB KKNN

RR

PP PP PP PP PP PP PP PP

PP PP PP PP PP PP PP PP

RR KKNN

BB QQ KK BB KKNN

RR

How the Rook movesHow the Rook moves

• In straight linesIn straight lines• BackwardsBackwards• ForwardsForwards• SidewaysSideways• But only one way at But only one way at

a timea time• As many squares as As many squares as

you want until it you want until it meets another meets another piecepiece

RR

The Knight (Or Horse)The Knight (Or Horse)

• This is the most difficult piece to moveThis is the most difficult piece to move

• It can move in any directionIt can move in any direction

• It can jump over piecesIt can jump over pieces

• Backwards, forwards or sidewaysBackwards, forwards or sideways

• It moves three squares; two in a straight It moves three squares; two in a straight line and then one to the right or leftline and then one to the right or left

• It always changes it’s mind, if it starts on a It always changes it’s mind, if it starts on a black square it will end on a white square.black square it will end on a white square.

How the Knight movesHow the Knight moves

• It always changes It always changes it’s mindit’s mind

• If it starts on a If it starts on a white square it white square it ends on a black ends on a black squaresquare

• It can jump over It can jump over piecespieces

• So many choicesSo many choices

KKNN

The BishopThe Bishop

• This piece moves diagonally, in any This piece moves diagonally, in any direction, backwards, forwards, to direction, backwards, forwards, to the right or to the leftthe right or to the left

• The cut on it’s head helps you to see The cut on it’s head helps you to see that it moves diagonally.that it moves diagonally.

How the Bishop movesHow the Bishop moves

• DiagonallyDiagonally

• In any directionIn any direction

• BackwardsBackwards

• ForwardsForwards

BB

The QueenThe Queen

• This is the most powerful piece on This is the most powerful piece on the boardthe board

• It moves like both the Castle and the It moves like both the Castle and the Bishop, but not at the same timeBishop, but not at the same time

• It moves backwards, forwards, It moves backwards, forwards, sideways and diagonally.sideways and diagonally.

How the Queen movesHow the Queen moves

• In a straight line In a straight line like the Rooklike the Rook

• Or diagonally like Or diagonally like the Bishop the Bishop

• But not at the But not at the same timesame time

QQ

How the King movesHow the King moves

• One square at a timeOne square at a time

• In any directionIn any direction

• If possible, always try If possible, always try and keep it on the and keep it on the back line where it back line where it can be defended can be defended easier at the start of easier at the start of the gamethe game

KK

Controlling the centre of the Controlling the centre of the boardboard

• You Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen and You Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen and King are your major pieces.King are your major pieces.

• As you can see from the previous As you can see from the previous slides you have more choices where slides you have more choices where to move one of your major pieces if it to move one of your major pieces if it is in the centre of the board.is in the centre of the board.

What is a Sacrifice ?What is a Sacrifice ?

• This is when you try and trick your This is when you try and trick your opponent.opponent.

• You want your opponent to take one You want your opponent to take one of your pieces, so that you can take of your pieces, so that you can take one of theirs and gain an advantage.one of theirs and gain an advantage.

When is the only time you are When is the only time you are in chargein charge

• When you call check!When you call check!

• Your opponent must get out of checkYour opponent must get out of check

• Even if he knows you will take one of Even if he knows you will take one of his major pieces nexthis major pieces next

• This is why the Knight is so goodThis is why the Knight is so good

Knight ForkKnight Fork

• Not a Knife and ForkNot a Knife and Fork

• This is when your This is when your knight is attacking knight is attacking more than one more than one piece at a timepiece at a time

• As the King is in As the King is in check it has to check it has to move and then you move and then you take the Rooktake the Rook

RR KNKN BB KK BB KNKN RR

PP PP KN PP PP PP PP

PP QQ

P P P P P P P

R B K B KN R

Why is Castling strange?Why is Castling strange?

• This is the only time you can move This is the only time you can move two pieces at oncetwo pieces at once

• You move the King and the RookYou move the King and the Rook

• The King moves two squares to the The King moves two squares to the right or left on the back lineright or left on the back line

• The Rook moves to the other side of The Rook moves to the other side of the King the King

When are you allowed to When are you allowed to Castle?Castle?

• If you have not moved your King or RookIf you have not moved your King or Rook

• If you have no pieces between you King If you have no pieces between you King and Rook on the side you wish to castleand Rook on the side you wish to castle

• If your King is not in check at any point If your King is not in check at any point through the movethrough the move

• When castling, the king must always be When castling, the king must always be moved first otherwise your opponent could moved first otherwise your opponent could claim that you have moved the rook claim that you have moved the rook instead of castling!instead of castling!

Castling protects your King !Castling protects your King !

• The King is invaluable. If it is attacked then it The King is invaluable. If it is attacked then it must move out of danger immediately and if it must move out of danger immediately and if it cannot be made safe then the game is lost.cannot be made safe then the game is lost.

• At the beginning of a chess game there is At the beginning of a chess game there is usually a battle for the centre of the board, usually a battle for the centre of the board, therefore it is a good idea to move the king therefore it is a good idea to move the king away from the action to a safe place in the away from the action to a safe place in the corner and to move the rook to the middle of corner and to move the rook to the middle of the board where it can take part in the battle.the board where it can take part in the battle.

What is Stalemate?What is Stalemate?

• This is where the only piece you can move This is where the only piece you can move is your Kingis your King

•BUTBUT!!• If you move your King you will move into If you move your King you will move into

checkcheck

• As you are not allowed to do thisAs you are not allowed to do this

• The game is a drawThe game is a draw

• This is known as StalemateThis is known as Stalemate

How do I avoid giving How do I avoid giving somebody a Stalemate?somebody a Stalemate?

• If your opponent can only move the If your opponent can only move the King, then you must ensure that you King, then you must ensure that you either call ‘Check’ or allow the King a either call ‘Check’ or allow the King a space to move to.space to move to.

• Quite often, the person who is Quite often, the person who is winning will forget this and instead of winning will forget this and instead of winning, they end up with a draw. winning, they end up with a draw.

How else can you get How else can you get Stalemate?Stalemate?

• The answer is if you are only able to The answer is if you are only able to move the King.move the King.

• If you move your King 25 times, If you move your King 25 times, before your opponent gets you in before your opponent gets you in check mate the game is a draw.check mate the game is a draw.

• If you can suddenly move one of your If you can suddenly move one of your pieces again, then you stop counting pieces again, then you stop counting and the game continues and the game continues

What is resigning?What is resigning?

• This is when you give up and Knock This is when you give up and Knock your King over.your King over.

•Even though you may be Even though you may be loosing, you should never do loosing, you should never do this!this!

• Your opponent may make a mistake Your opponent may make a mistake which might mean you end up with a which might mean you end up with a draw or even winning.draw or even winning.

RepetitionRepetition

• What is this I hear you sayWhat is this I hear you say

• This is when you both make the This is when you both make the same move more than oncesame move more than once

• If you both make the same move, If you both make the same move, back wards and forwards 3 times, the back wards and forwards 3 times, the game is a draw.game is a draw.

The En Passant Pawn The En Passant Pawn CaptureCapture• You may think this move is illegal, but it is not!You may think this move is illegal, but it is not!

• This is a special way of capturing is called This is a special way of capturing is called capturing en passant. En passant is a French capturing en passant. En passant is a French expression which means “in passing”.expression which means “in passing”.

• The en passant capture must be done The en passant capture must be done immediately after the pawn advances two immediately after the pawn advances two squares. If your opponent plays another move squares. If your opponent plays another move he cannot then decide to capture en passant! he cannot then decide to capture en passant!

The En Passant Pawn Capture The En Passant Pawn Capture (2)(2)

• You may remember every pawn, on You may remember every pawn, on its first move, has the choice of its first move, has the choice of moving either one or two squares moving either one or two squares forward.forward.

• Look at the diagram on the next Look at the diagram on the next slide. Black may think “ If I move my slide. Black may think “ If I move my pawn one square White will capture pawn one square White will capture it so I’ll move it two squares”it so I’ll move it two squares”

The En Passant Pawn Capture The En Passant Pawn Capture (3)(3)

KK

PP PP

KK

KK

PP

PP

KK

The En Passant Pawn Capture The En Passant Pawn Capture (4)(4)

• However, White can still capture the However, White can still capture the black pawn as if it had only moved black pawn as if it had only moved one square.one square.

• White removes the black pawn from White removes the black pawn from the board and places the white pawn the board and places the white pawn on the square the black pawn would on the square the black pawn would have moved to if it had only moved have moved to if it had only moved one square forward!one square forward!

The En Passant Pawn Capture The En Passant Pawn Capture (5)(5)

KK

PP

KK

KK

PP PP

KK

THE ENDTHE END