Introduction
Chess is a popular and strategic board game that has been played all around the world for centuries. It is a game of strategy, patience, and critical thinking. In this guide, we will learn about how the chess pieces move and the basic rules of the game. This guide is specifically designed for kids, so it will be easy to understand and follow.
The Chessboard
Before we learn how to move the chess pieces, let´s take a look at the chessboard. A standard chessboard has 64 squares, with alternating light and dark colors. The chessboard is set up in a way that each player has a light-colored square in the bottom right corner. This is important as it determines which color pieces each player will use.
The Chess Pieces
There are six different types of chess pieces, each with its own unique way of moving. These pieces are the King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight, and Pawn. Let´s take a closer look at each piece and learn how it moves.
The King is the most important piece on the board as it is the one that needs to be protected at all times. The King can only move one square at a time in any direction – up, down, left, right, or diagonally. The King can never move into a square that is under attack by an opponent’s piece.
The Queen is the most powerful piece on the board. It can move in any direction – vertically, horizontally, and diagonally, as far as possible. This makes the Queen a deadly attacker and a valuable defender.
The Rook can move horizontally and vertically, but it cannot move diagonally. It can move as far as possible, but it cannot jump over other pieces. Rooks are best used in the endgame when there are fewer pieces on the board.
The Bishop can only move diagonally, but it can move as far as possible. It is best used in the middle of the game when there are still many pieces on the board. Bishops are most powerful when they have open diagonals.
The Knight is the only piece on the board that can jump over other pieces. It moves in an L-shape, two squares in one direction and then one square to the side. It can move in any direction – up, down, left, right, or diagonally, as long as it follows the L-shape pattern.
The Pawn is the smallest and the weakest piece on the board, but it can become very powerful if it reaches the opponent’s side of the board. Pawns can only move one square at a time and only forward, except when capturing an opponent’s piece. Pawns can capture by moving one square diagonally, but they cannot move or capture backward.
The Special Moves
There are two special moves in chess – castling and en passant. Castling is a move that the King and Rook can make together in one turn. It is a way to protect the King by moving it from the center to the side of the board, and at the same time, moving the Rook to the center. En passant is a move that only applies to a pawn. It is a way for a pawn to capture an opponent’s pawn that has just made a double move.
Basic Rules of Chess
Besides knowing how the pieces move, it is essential to understand some basic rules of chess. Here are a few rules that you need to keep in mind while playing chess:
– Each player takes turns moving one piece at a time. The player with the white pieces moves first.
– You cannot make a move that puts your own King in check.
– A game can end in three different ways – checkmate, stalemate, or draw by agreement.
– A stalemate happens when a player has no legal moves left, but their King is not in check. This is a draw, and neither player wins.
– A player can offer a draw to their opponent anytime during the game. If the opponent agrees, the game ends in a draw.
– If a player runs out of time, the game ends in a loss for that player.
– It is important to be a good sport and follow the rules of the game. Always shake hands with your opponent before and after the game.
In Conclusion
Chess is a fantastic game that not only provides entertainment but also improves critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Now that you know how the chess pieces move and the basic rules of the game, you are ready to start playing. Remember to practice and have fun!
