How To Play: Chess

Overview

If you’ve ever thought you could learn How To Play chess and immediately beat Magnus Carlsen, welcome to a club of one (me, last Tuesday). In this guide, I’ll outline the basic game rules and stack them next to the sneakiest, sassiest strategies I’ve picked up. Whether you’re a total beginner or still falling for Scholar’s Mate, there’s something here to help you notch up a win.

What’s in the box

• 1 Chess board
• 1 White King
• 1 Black King
• 1 White Queen
• 1 Black Queen
• 2 White Rooks
• 2 Black Rooks
• 2 White Bishops
• 2 Black Bishops
• 2 White Knights
• 2 Black Knights
• 8 White Pawns
• 8 Black Pawns

How To Play Chess: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Place the board so each player has a white square at their right corner.
2. Set up the pieces: Rooks in the corners, then Knights next to them, then Bishops, Queen on her color, and King on the last square.
3. Line up pawns on the second row in front of your main pieces. That’s your army, ready for battle!

Gameplay

1. White moves first. Take turns after that.
2. Each piece moves in its own way. For example, Bishops go diagonal, Rooks go straight, Knights jump in an “L” shape, and pawns move forward (but capture diagonally).
3. When you reach a square occupied by an enemy piece, you capture it and remove it from the board. (That’s always a little victory!)

Winning

1. Checkmate your opponent’s king. That means the king is under threat and can’t escape – that’s game over!
2. If neither player can checkmate, the game is a draw. (Don’t feel bad, even Magnus Carlsen draws sometimes.)

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Castling: Once per game, your king and rook can move together for safety. King moves two squares towards the rook, rook hops over. Make sure no pieces are in the way, and neither piece has moved yet.
2. En passant: If a pawn moves two squares forward and lands next to your pawn, you can capture it as if it moved only one square.
3. Pawn Promotion: If your pawn reaches the opposite side, you can swap it for a queen (or rook, bishop, or knight) – this is your chance for a comeback.

My friends had to walk me through these rules the first time, and I still forgot how pawns promote. So don’t worry if you mix things up. With practice, you’ll get the hang of How To Play chess. Pretty soon you’ll be checkmating your buddies and pretending you meant to all along!

Best Chess Strategies

Mastering Opening Moves and Board Control in Chess

Claim the Center Early

When learning How To Play chess, I always try to take the center. Controlling these squares lets you move your pieces more freely. My friend once ignored the center, then spent the rest of the game chasing my pawns. Do not do that!

1. Advance your e and d pawns first.
2. Get knights out before bishops.
3. Avoid moving the same piece twice.

Develop Everyone, Not Just The Queen

Sometimes, I get greedy and bring the queen out early. It usually ends in disaster. Instead, work on all your pieces for better board control.

1. Move knights and bishops toward the center.
2. Keep your king safe by castling soon.
3. Hold your queen back until later.

Watch Opponent’s Plans

I learned the hard way to not just focus on my own moves. Always look at what your opponent is trying to do, so you keep control.

1. Check for threats before each move.
2. See if your opponent wants to take the center.
3. Stop sneaky attacks by covering weak spots.

Unlocking Chess Power: Piece Development and Positioning

Get Your Pieces Moving Fast

Speed matters! I always try to move my knights and bishops out early. This gives me more control and makes my opponent nervous.

1. Move each piece once before moving one twice
2. Avoid moving the same pawn too much

Connect Your Rooks

Once you castle, you want your rooks ready. They can back each other up and rule the board.

1. Clear the space between your rooks
2. Put them on open files if you can

Dominate the Center

When you learn How To Play chess, you hear about the center all the time. That’s because having your pieces point at the middle lets you attack anywhere.

1. Place pieces so they protect and attack central squares
2. Avoid blocking your own pawns and bishops

Don’t Trap Your Own Army

I’ve made the mistake of trapping my bishops more times than I’d like to admit! Plan ahead to avoid boxing in your own pieces.

1. Give your bishops and queen room to move
2. Remember: bad piece placement hurts more than you think

Mastering the Endgame: Outsmart Your Opponent

Stay Calm When Few Pieces Remain

When most of the big hitters are gone, never rush. I once blundered a queen thinking the win was in the bag! Instead, plan every move.

King Activity is Key

Bring your king out to help, but avoid danger. Here are my top tips:

1. March your king to the center.
2. Use your king to attack weak pawns.
3. Block the opponent’s king from advancing.

Pawns Can Be Heroes Too

Pawns love to promote! Ensure their safety:

1. Advance pawns together, not alone.
2. Support pawn pushes with your king.
3. Always watch out for pawn breaks.

Think Ahead to Win

Always have a plan, even if it changes every turn. Practicing endgames will boost your confidence. If you want to get better at How To Play chess, focus on these endgame drills in every session.

Checkmate Your Way to Glory!

You made it through my chess strategy guide without flipping the board in anger. That’s already a win in my book! Remember, learning How To Play chess well takes practice, blunders, and maybe a few more blunders. Knock your opponent’s socks off by using what you learned about piece development, smart moves, and not walking your queen right into danger (like I totally haven’t done before, cough cough). Grab a friend, some snacks, and give these tips a shot. Who knows, next time you play, you might just leave them wondering, “When did you get so good?”

Want to know what we think of Chess? Read our detailed review of Chess here