So you want to learn chess. Maybe someone challenged you to a game, or you’ve been watching too many chess documentaries and finally want to understand what’s actually happening on that 64-square board. Either way, you’ve come to the right place.
Chess looks intimidating at first — all those different pieces with different moves — but in reality, the basic rules take about 15 minutes to learn. Mastering them? That’s a lifetime journey. But we’ll get you playing your first real game today.
Quick Answer: Chess is a two-player strategy game where each player controls 16 pieces on an 8×8 board. The goal is to trap your opponent’s King so it can’t escape — this is called checkmate. Each type of piece moves differently, and the game ends when a King is in checkmate, a player resigns, or the game is drawn.
Setting Up the Chess Board
Before any move is made, you need to set the board correctly. A chess board has 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid, alternating between light and dark squares.
Board Orientation
Place the board so there’s a light (white) square in the bottom-right corner from each player’s perspective. A simple way to remember: “light on right.” If you set up with a dark square in the bottom-right corner, the board is backwards.
Piece Placement
Each player starts with 16 pieces arranged on the two rows closest to them:
- Back row (from left to right): Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen, King, Bishop, Knight, Rook
- Front row: Eight Pawns fill the entire second row
One important detail: the Queen always goes on her own color. The White Queen starts on a white square; the Black Queen starts on a black square. If you remember this rule, you’ll never set up the board wrong.
How Each Chess Piece Moves
This is where most beginners spend their time, and rightly so. Each of the six types of pieces moves in a completely different way.
The King
The King is the most important piece — the whole game revolves around protecting it. The King can move one square in any direction: horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. It can capture enemy pieces by moving onto their square. However, the King can never move into a square where it would be captured (called “moving into check”). In my experience, beginners often forget this restriction and need reminding during their first few games.
The Queen
The Queen is the most powerful piece on the board. She can move any number of squares in any direction — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally — as long as no pieces are in the way. A Queen in the center of an open board controls up to 27 squares simultaneously.
The Rook
The Rook (sometimes called a castle) moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically. Two Rooks working together on open rows or columns are devastatingly powerful in the endgame. Rooks are worth about 5 points in chess notation, compared to the Queen’s 9 points.
The Bishop
Each player has two Bishops — one stays on light squares, one stays on dark squares throughout the entire game. Bishops move diagonally any number of squares. A Bishop in an open diagonal can control much of the board; a Bishop blocked by its own pawns is often called a “bad bishop.”
The Knight
The Knight is the trickiest piece for beginners. It moves in an “L” shape: two squares in one direction (horizontal or vertical), then one square perpendicular to that. The key thing that makes Knights unique: they’re the only piece that can jump over other pieces. Knights are worth about 3 points and excel in closed positions where other pieces struggle to move around.
The Pawn
Pawns are the most numerous pieces and have the most unusual rules. Here’s what you need to know:
- Pawns move forward only (never backward)
- On their first move, a Pawn can advance one or two squares
- After that, Pawns can only advance one square at a time
- Pawns capture diagonally — one square forward and to either side
- A Pawn cannot capture a piece directly in front of it — only diagonally
Pawns seem weak, but pawn structure is one of the deepest strategic concepts in chess. A well-positioned pawn chain can control the board for the entire game.
Special Chess Rules Every Beginner Must Know
Beyond the basic moves, chess has a few special rules that trip up many beginners.
Castling
Castling is a special move involving your King and one of your Rooks. It’s the only time in chess you can move two pieces in a single turn. Here’s how it works:
- The King moves two squares toward the Rook
- The Rook jumps over the King to the square on the other side
However, castling is only legal if all these conditions are met:
- Neither the King nor the chosen Rook has moved before
- There are no pieces between the King and Rook
- The King is not currently in check
- The King does not pass through or land on a square that’s under attack
Castling kingside (toward the h-file Rook) is the most common. Castling queenside (toward the a-file Rook) is also legal but leaves the King slightly less protected. Players typically castle early to put their King in safety and connect their Rooks.
En Passant
En passant is French for “in passing” and it’s the most confusing rule in chess for newcomers. Here’s when it occurs:
If your opponent’s Pawn advances two squares from its starting position and lands beside your Pawn, you have the option to capture it as if it had only moved one square forward. This capture must happen immediately — on your very next move. If you wait, the opportunity is gone forever.
En passant prevents a player from using the two-square Pawn advance to “sneak past” an opponent’s Pawn that’s in position to capture it.
Pawn Promotion
When a Pawn reaches the opposite end of the board (the 8th rank for White, the 1st rank for Black), it must be promoted to any other piece: Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight. You cannot stay as a Pawn.
Almost always, players promote to a Queen because it’s the most powerful piece. This is called “queening.” In rare situations (to avoid a stalemate), a player might promote to a different piece — this is called “underpromotion.”
Check, Checkmate and Stalemate
The three most important outcomes in chess all involve the King.
Check
When your King is under attack — meaning an opponent’s piece could capture it on their next move — you are “in check.” You must resolve the check immediately. You can do this three ways:
- Move the King to a safe square
- Block the attack by placing one of your pieces between the attacker and your King
- Capture the attacking piece
You cannot make any other move while in check. And you can never make a move that puts your own King in check.
Checkmate
Checkmate is the winning condition in chess. It happens when a King is in check and there is absolutely no legal move to escape it — moving the King puts it on another attacked square, blocking doesn’t work, and the attacking piece can’t be captured. The game ends immediately when checkmate occurs; the player who delivered checkmate wins.
Stalemate
Stalemate is a draw condition. It happens when the player whose turn it is has no legal moves, but their King is not in check. This is a common trap that losing players can sometimes engineer to salvage a half-point. In my experience teaching beginners, stalemate is the source of more accidental draws than anything else — be careful not to trap an opponent’s King so completely that they have no moves at all.
Other Ways a Chess Game Can End
- Resignation: A player concedes defeat when they believe the position is hopeless. This is perfectly honorable.
- Draw by agreement: Both players agree to end the game as a draw.
- Threefold repetition: If the same position occurs three times in a game, a draw can be claimed.
- 50-move rule: If 50 consecutive moves pass with no pawn move and no capture, a draw can be claimed.
- Insufficient material: If neither player has enough pieces to achieve checkmate, the game is a draw.
Basic Chess Strategy for Beginners
Control the Center
The four central squares (e4, d4, e5, d5) are the most valuable real estate on the board. Pieces in the center control more squares and have more mobility. Open your game by moving central pawns forward and developing your pieces toward the center.
Develop Your Pieces
In the opening, move your Knights and Bishops out from the back rank so they can participate in the game. As a general rule, try to develop a new piece every move in the opening rather than moving the same piece twice.
Get Your King to Safety
Castle early! Once you’ve developed your pieces and cleared the path, castling tucks your King away and connects your Rooks. A King left in the center is vulnerable to attack.
Think Before You Move
Before making a move, ask yourself: “Can my opponent take anything for free after this move?” Hanging pieces (pieces that can be captured without punishment) are the most common reason beginners lose material.
Common Chess Mistakes Beginners Make
- Moving the Queen out too early: Your Queen is powerful, but bringing her out in the opening usually gets her chased around by your opponent’s developing pieces, wasting moves.
- Ignoring piece development: Moving the same pawn multiple times in the opening while your pieces sit undeveloped leads to a cramped position.
- Forgetting to castle: Many beginners forget to protect their King early, leaving it exposed in the center.
- Making moves without checking for hanging pieces: Always scan for threats before and after your move.
- Giving away stalemate: When you’re winning, make sure you leave your opponent at least one legal move before delivering checkmate.
Chess Piece Values at a Glance
| Piece | Value (Points) | Best Role |
|---|---|---|
| Pawn | 1 | Structure, promotion threat |
| Knight | 3 | Closed positions, forks |
| Bishop | 3 | Open diagonals, long-range |
| Rook | 5 | Open files, endgame power |
| Queen | 9 | Attacking, versatile |
| King | Priceless | Survival (endgame attacker) |
Frequently Asked Questions About Chess Rules
Can a King capture a piece?
Yes, the King can capture any enemy piece that is not protected by another enemy piece. The King can never move to or capture on a square where it would be in check.
Can you have two Queens in chess?
Absolutely. If you promote a pawn to a Queen, you can have two or more Queens on the board at the same time. It’s rare but legal and often decisive when it happens.
Does the King have to move when in check?
No — you must escape check, but moving the King is only one of three options. You can also block the check or capture the attacking piece.
What happens if you forget to say check?
In casual games, you might call out “check” as a courtesy, but it’s not required by the official rules. Your opponent is responsible for noticing their King is in check. In tournament play, players never announce check.
Where to Play and Practice Chess
The best way to improve is to play often. Chess.com and Lichess.org both offer free online play against other beginners or computer opponents set to your skill level. Lichess is completely free and open-source, making it an excellent starting point.
If you enjoy chess and other strategy games, you might also want to explore the many types of board games out there — from abstract strategy games like Go and Checkers to modern euro games that scratch a similar strategic itch.
Conclusion
Chess rewards patience and practice. The rules themselves are not complicated — 16 pieces, six types of moves, one goal: checkmate the King. The depth comes from the near-infinite combinations those simple rules create.
Start by memorizing how each piece moves, then play a few slow games focusing on piece development and King safety. Don’t worry about memorizing openings or studying grandmaster games yet. Just play, make mistakes, and learn from them.
Once you’ve got chess down, there’s a whole world of classic board games waiting to be explored. Check out our guide to the different types of board games to find your next tabletop obsession.
