Official Chess Rules
How To Play Chess
2
Players
7+
Ages
90 MIN
Play Time
$25
Price
Chess is one of the most popular and long-lasting strategy board games, played by two people on an 8x8 square board. Each player has 16 pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. The objective of the game is to checkmate the opposing king, which means the king is in immediate threat and has no legal moves to escape. Chess requires a profound level of strategy in which players need to think ahead a few moves while looking forward to their opponent's next move.
The game starts with both players setting up their pieces in an initial arrangement, with the white pieces set on ranks 1 and 2, and the black pieces on ranks 7 and 8. The white player makes the first move, with turns alternating during the course of the game. The pieces have certain movements: the rook moves horizontally or vertically across the board, the bishop moves diagonally, the queen moves like the rook and bishop, the knight moves in an L-shape, and the pawns move a square forward (two on their first move) but capture diagonally. The king travels one square in any direction, and the game will conclude with checkmate, stalemate (a tie), or resignation.
Chess has a history dating over a thousand years, when its earliest known precursor was a game that was played in India in the 6th century known as Chaturanga. Chaturanga was a board game of strategy with four branches of the army: infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots, which later evolved into the pieces we recognize today as pawns, knights, bishops, and rooks. The game spread in Persia as Shatranj and later to the Islamic world and Europe during the medieval period.
By the 15th century, the rules of the game began to resemble modern chess. Key changes included the powerful movement of the queen (which had previously moved more limitedly) and the introduction of the modern pawn structure. The game continued to evolve in Europe, with standardization occurring in the 19th century, leading to the first modern world chess championship in 1886. Over time, chess became an intellectual pursuit, with chess masters and tournaments becoming central to the game’s culture.
Chess strategy is a subtle balance of offense and defense. One of the basic principles is to control the center of the board, as this provides greater mobility to the pieces and a strategic advantage in attacking or defending. Good players focus on developing the pieces early, so that each piece has a clear role to play while having a good defense for the king, typically by castling. Endgame is also vital, where the pieces are placed in a precise way to checkmate the opposing player's king or draw when there is no possibility of checkmate.
The players must think about potential tactics such as pins, forks, skewers, and discovered attacks during the game, which could make a substantial difference in winning material or checkmating. Sacrificing a piece or two in order to get a good position is typically a significant part of high-level chess strategy since it pays dividends in the long run. Additionally, studying opening theory, which is made up of established moves and plans for opening the game, is a requirement for tournament success.
Chess is currently enjoyed by millions of people all over the world, from amateur to grandmaster. It is a game beyond language, geography, and culture, presenting a challenge of a universal nature and requiring intellect and mental endurance. Modern chess is now no longer confined to physical boards as there are online chess websites that have made it accessible to everyone from beginners to expert players, with a global community that flourishes. Tournaments are broadcast live, and one can now play in real-time anywhere in the globe, so chess has never been more thrilling.
As a game that has endured for centuries, chess also continues to evolve with the times. It is both an art and a science, where players employ logic, strategy, and intuition to defeat their opponents. Whether it is played professionally or for recreation, chess is always a mirror of intellectual challenge and a reflection of the wealth of human thought. With the advent of artificial intelligence and online play, chess will undoubtedly fascinate generations to come.
The game starts with both players setting up their pieces in an initial arrangement, with the white pieces set on ranks 1 and 2, and the black pieces on ranks 7 and 8. The white player makes the first move, with turns alternating during the course of the game. The pieces have certain movements: the rook moves horizontally or vertically across the board, the bishop moves diagonally, the queen moves like the rook and bishop, the knight moves in an L-shape, and the pawns move a square forward (two on their first move) but capture diagonally. The king travels one square in any direction, and the game will conclude with checkmate, stalemate (a tie), or resignation.
Chess has a history dating over a thousand years, when its earliest known precursor was a game that was played in India in the 6th century known as Chaturanga. Chaturanga was a board game of strategy with four branches of the army: infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots, which later evolved into the pieces we recognize today as pawns, knights, bishops, and rooks. The game spread in Persia as Shatranj and later to the Islamic world and Europe during the medieval period.
By the 15th century, the rules of the game began to resemble modern chess. Key changes included the powerful movement of the queen (which had previously moved more limitedly) and the introduction of the modern pawn structure. The game continued to evolve in Europe, with standardization occurring in the 19th century, leading to the first modern world chess championship in 1886. Over time, chess became an intellectual pursuit, with chess masters and tournaments becoming central to the game’s culture.
Chess strategy is a subtle balance of offense and defense. One of the basic principles is to control the center of the board, as this provides greater mobility to the pieces and a strategic advantage in attacking or defending. Good players focus on developing the pieces early, so that each piece has a clear role to play while having a good defense for the king, typically by castling. Endgame is also vital, where the pieces are placed in a precise way to checkmate the opposing player's king or draw when there is no possibility of checkmate.
The players must think about potential tactics such as pins, forks, skewers, and discovered attacks during the game, which could make a substantial difference in winning material or checkmating. Sacrificing a piece or two in order to get a good position is typically a significant part of high-level chess strategy since it pays dividends in the long run. Additionally, studying opening theory, which is made up of established moves and plans for opening the game, is a requirement for tournament success.
Chess is currently enjoyed by millions of people all over the world, from amateur to grandmaster. It is a game beyond language, geography, and culture, presenting a challenge of a universal nature and requiring intellect and mental endurance. Modern chess is now no longer confined to physical boards as there are online chess websites that have made it accessible to everyone from beginners to expert players, with a global community that flourishes. Tournaments are broadcast live, and one can now play in real-time anywhere in the globe, so chess has never been more thrilling.
As a game that has endured for centuries, chess also continues to evolve with the times. It is both an art and a science, where players employ logic, strategy, and intuition to defeat their opponents. Whether it is played professionally or for recreation, chess is always a mirror of intellectual challenge and a reflection of the wealth of human thought. With the advent of artificial intelligence and online play, chess will undoubtedly fascinate generations to come.
- Chess Will Come With The Chess Game Board
- 2 Kings
- 2 Queens
- 4 Bishops
- 4 Knights
- 4 Rooks
- 16 Pawns
- Official Chess Board Game Rules And Instructions
Force your opponent into Checkmate, by forcing his or her King into a position where it cannot move without being captured.
Please keep in mind that the official Chess PDF rules listed below could be different depending on the version you have. They should be an exact copy of what came in your original packaging. Download them to view now or print them for later use.
Share with us your comments, funny stories, tips, advice, strategies, creative ways to play, questions about playing, problems with the directions, etc. All submissions will be reviewed within 24 hours.
me says:
two move checkmate
05-10-2012
two move checkmate
Mrs Eadon says:
can you explain how to get your opponent into checkmate in the least amount of goes? Thank you.
09-23-2009
can you explain how to get your opponent into checkmate in the least amount of goes? Thank you.
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