Chess Rules

Basic Chess Rules for How to Play Chess

3. The player with the white pieces makes the first move:
   The initial move in a game of chess is typically made by the player who controls the white pieces. In formal chess games, the selection of which player gets to control the white pieces is determined through a random procedure. This can be accomplished in various ways, such as flipping a coin, rolling a dice, or drawing lots. In competitive tournament settings, the process of determining the player who plays with the white pieces is usually more structured. Players may be assigned a numerical value or ranking, and then matched up to compete against each other. The player with the higher ranking or lower numerical value may be given the opportunity to decide whether they prefer to play with the white pieces or the black pieces. During casual or friendly matches, players may simply agree to take turns playing with the white and black pieces, or they may employ a random method like flipping a coin or rolling a dice to determine who gets to control which color. It is important to recognize that the color of the chess pieces holds symbolic significance and does not inherently grant any advantage to the player. The choice of color to play with is often a matter of personal preference or strategic consideration, rather than a tactical benefit.

4. Each player can play one move in his turn:
   A chess piece is only allowed to move to a square that is not already occupied, or to a square that is occupied by an opponent’s piece, resulting in the capture of that piece.

5. Every Chess piece has a unique moving way:
   The game of chess offers a captivating and demanding experience due to the unique movement patterns of each individual piece on the board. Understanding these distinct movements is essential for beginners, as it forms the foundation of basic chess rules. Keep reading to gain insights into the fascinating ways in which each chess piece maneuvers:
   King: The king holds the utmost significance among the chess pieces, yet paradoxically, it is the most vulnerable. Its mobility is limited to a single square in any direction, serving the purpose of safeguarding the other pieces and exerting influence over the central area of the board.

• Queen: The queen is the most powerful piece on the board, and can move horizontally, vertically, or diagonally any number of squares. It is often used to control the center of the board and to attack the opponent’s pieces from multiple angles.

• Bishop: Bishops have the ability to move diagonally across the chessboard, covering any number of squares. Their strategic significance lies in their capacity to dominate diagonals and launch long-range attacks on the adversary’s pieces.

• Knight: Knights maneuver on the chessboard by moving in an “L” shape, covering two squares in one direction and then one square in a perpendicular direction. Unlike other chess pieces, knights possess the unique ability to leap over other pieces, rendering them valuable for executing unexpected assaults.

• Rook: Rooks possess significant power as they have the ability to move horizontally or vertically across an unlimited number of squares. Their strategic value lies in their frequent utilization to dominate open fields and launch long-range attacks against the adversary’s pieces.

• Pawn: Pawns, although considered the least powerful chess pieces, possess significant strategic value in terms of space control and obstructing the adversary’s pieces. Initially, pawns have the ability to advance either one or two squares, subsequently restricted to moving one square at a time. It is important to note that pawns are only permitted to capture opposing pieces in a diagonal manner, specifically one square ahead of their current position.

4. The Rules of Checkmate and Draw:

• If a player’s king is in a state of being attacked, commonly referred to as “check,” the player is obligated to make a move in order to remove their king from check. This can be achieved by either moving the king to a safe position, capturing the attacking piece, or obstructing the attack with another piece.

• In the event that a player’s king is under attack and there are no legal moves available to escape check, the game concludes, and the player who has placed the opponent’s king in check emerges as the victor.

• However, if a player is not currently in check but has exhausted all possible legal moves, the game results in a draw due to a condition known as “stalemate.” Stalemate frequently occurs when a player attempts to force a win but overextends their position, leaving the opponent’s king in a state where it cannot move without being placed in check.

In such a scenario, the player with the disadvantageous position may sometimes salvage a draw by deliberately allowing their pieces to be captured until the game reaches a stalemate.

• Furthermore, if the same position on the chessboard arises three times throughout the course of the game, with the same player having the opportunity to move, the game is declared a draw based on the “threefold repetition” rule.

To claim a threefold repetition, the player must formally declare it to the arbiter or their opponent, and both players should be able to identify the specific position that has been repeated. It is important to note that the repetition does not necessarily need to occur in consecutive moves, as long as the position on the board is identical and the same player is required to make a move.

The implementation of the threefold repetition rule serves to prevent players from endlessly repeating moves in order to waste time or frustrate their opponent. Additionally, it helps to prevent a player from exploiting a slight advantage to secure a victory in an endgame position where further progress is unattainable.

• Lastly, if both players have completed 50 moves without any captures or pawn movements, the game concludes in a draw according to the “50-move rule.” This rule exclusively applies to the player whose turn it is to move, and they must assert the draw before executing their 50th move. Failure to claim the draw and making a move will reset the count for the 50-move rule.

It is important to acknowledge that the 50-move rule is only applicable in specific circumstances, and not all endgame positions are subject to its provisions.

• If a player desires to terminate the game due to their conviction of being unable to secure victory, they possess the ability to resign at any given moment.