Chess - The Basics

According to Wikipedia chess is a board game between 2 players, sometimes called Western Chess or International Chess, it emerged in Spain during the late 15th century.

In this article eye 1st attempt to describe the board and pieces followed by their configuration with respect to each other and the board. I follow with the basic moves of the pieces, followed by potential outcomes for the END GAME. Finally a few words on notation.

The board has 64 squares arranged in an 8 x 8 grid designated rows (RANK) and columns (FILES), the squares are normally alternative colours often referred to as light and dark squares.

The 16 pieces the player commands consist of 6 types, these are : 1 x king, 1 x queen, 2 x rooks (often shaped like a turret)), 2 x bishops, 2 x knights and 8 pawns. Each team is a different colour normally black and white (who normally start the game).

A `WIN` occurs when the King is cornered ? This attack is called CHECKMATE, interim situations include CHECK whereby the King is under attack.

LAYOUT : you will need a little imagination for this : The board sits with light square in top left hand corner/dark square in the bottom left.

Starting with bottom left (dark) the light pieces 1st RANK from left to right the pieces are placed in the following order : rook, knight, bishop, queen (on her own colour), king (on alternative colour to itself), bishop, knight, rook. The second RANK a row of 8 pawns. DARK pieces mirror LIGHT with the same pieces on the same FILE.

Choice of colour determines who starts (WHITE/LIGHT) and appointed to a player randomly.

MOVEMENT : LIGHT COLOUR moves 1st, each piece has it`s own move. Moving is COMPULSORY.

THE MOVES : No piece can move over another with the exception of the KNIGHT.

THE KING (the most valuable piece) moves 1 square in any direction and another called CASTLING (a move performed with THE ROOK).

A ROOK : can move any number of squares along a rank or file, but cannot leap over other pieces. THE ROOK along with THE KING is involved in CASTLING.

A BISHOP : can move any number of squares diagonally, but cannot leap over other pieces.

A QUEEN (second most valuable piece) combines the attributes of a BISHOP and ROOK and can move any number of squares along rank and file or diagonal but cannot leap over other pieces.

A KNIGHT : makes a slightly more complex move defined by Wikipedia to any square on same rank, file or diagonal. Thus forming a diagonal, the knight can move over other pieces.

A PAWN : has limited mobility, has 3 basic moves, these are to move 1 square forward, potentially 2 squares for the 1st move. Capturing an opponent can only occur diagonally. A pawn has 2 special moves "en passant" and "promotion".

The game continues until a win, you can capture opponents pieces by legally moving onto their square : POTENTIAL OUTCOMES - WIN a won game can occur via CHECKMATE, RESIGNATION, WIN ON TIME, FORFEIT.

Draw has several potential outcomes, Stalemate, Dead positions, By agreement, On time.

That will do for now practice will help organise the text in your mind. I am available via tutorhunt with a few options on how we can practice.

SOURCES : Wikipedia, years of experience including playing for the school chess team, the chess club was organised by the head of mathematics (my pure mathematics teacher). I have a board (made by my father in 1972) and pieces.