Sunday, May 15, 2011

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.

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!
 










Friday, May 13, 2011

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."