How to Castle

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The King moves two squares to the side it wants to castle. The King moves two squares to the side it wants to castle.

The Rook moves over and next to the King. The Rook moves over and next to the King.

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You May Not

Castle out of Check.

Castle through the line of Check.

Castle into Check.

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Once you have moved your King, you may not Castle to either side.

If you move your Rook, you may not Castle to that side. (BUT YOU CAN STILL CASTLE TO THE OTHER SIDE)

The Queen

The Queen is the most powerful piece on the board. She can move up and down on Files, back and forth on the Ranks, criss-cross the board on the Diagonals.

The King

Is the most important piece on the Board.

He can move only one square in any direction.

He can move one square on the Rank.

He can move one square on the Diagonal.

He can move one square on the File.

Always protect your King.

The Rook

We have Ranks and we have Files. The Rook moves on Ranks and Files. The Rook can move to any square on the "H" File. The Rook can move to any square on the "1st" Rank.

We have Ranks and we have Files. The Rook moves on Ranks and Files. The Rook can move to any square on the "E" File. The Rook can move to any square on the "4th" Rank.

The Bishop

The Dark Square Bishop moves on the Dark Square Diagonals.

The Light Square Bishop moves on the Light Square Diagonals.

Bishops move on the Diagonal.

You have a dark square Bishop that moves on the dark squares.

You have a light square Bishop that moves on the light squares.

The Knight

he Knight Moves in a Straight Line from a dark square to a light square from a light square to a dark square

The Knight moves from a light square to a dark square. It moves up and down and back and forth. The Knight moves in a straight line.

The Knight is the only piece that moves between (or over) other pieces. The Knight "jumps" over other pieces.

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A Knight's Journey Across the Board

It takes four moves for the Knight to reach the other side of the Board.

The Pawn

The Pawn moves one or two squares forward on its first move, after that, it may only move one square forward.
Pawns move forward on the file.
Pawns may not move backwards

                                                          Pawns capture only on the Diagonal.

When a pawn reaches the other side of the board, the 8th rank, it must be "promoted" to a Queen, or a Rook, or a Bishop, or a Knight.
It may not be promoted to a King.

Because a Pawn is promoted when it reaches the 8th rank, it is possible to have: 9 Queens, or 10 Rooks, or 10 Bishops, or 10 Knights.
It is very unlikely this will ever happen... but it is possible, and legal!
 

The Chess Board

Remember: White square to the Right and Queen to her Color.
(This is true for both the White and Black pieces).
The letters and numbers on the side of the board are called coordinates, they represent ranks and files.
If you are the white pieces, the letters (files) should be in alphabetical order: A - H.
If you are the black pieces, the letters should be in reverse order: H - A.
The numbers on the side of the board are the ranks, if you are the white pieces, they should count up: 1 - 8.
If you are the black pieces, they should count down: 8 - 1.
Diagonals are slanted lines, criss-cross lines, X
There are dark square diagonals and light square diagonals.
All the major pieces (Kings, Queens, and Rooks) and minor pieces (Knights and Bishops) sit opposite of each other,
the pawns are in a line in front of the pieces.
There are sixty-four (64) squares on a Chessboard.

One side of the Board is                                                  
called the "Queen-Side."

One side of the Board is
called the "King-Side."

You will often hear "Move a pawn to the
Center of the Board.]

You will also hear "Control the Center of the Board."