Getting Started with Chess
Learn the basics of chess, including board setup and game objectives
Chess Board Setup
Learn how to properly set up a chess board and understand the initial position
The chessboard consists of 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid. Each player starts with:
- 8 pawns
- 2 rooks
- 2 knights
- 2 bishops
- 1 queen
- 1 king
The board should be positioned so that each player has a light square in the bottom-right corner. The pieces are arranged in a specific order on the first rank (row) of each player.
Game Objectives
Understand the main goal of chess and how to achieve it
The main objective in chess is to checkmate your opponent's king. This means putting the opponent's king in a position where it is under attack (in check) and cannot escape capture.
A game can also end in a draw if:
- Neither player can checkmate the opponent's king
- Both players agree to a draw
- The same position is repeated three times
- There are no legal moves and the king is not in check (stalemate)
Basic Concepts
Learn about key chess concepts and terminology
Important chess concepts include:
- Material: The total value of your pieces
- Development: Moving pieces from their starting positions to more active squares
- Control of the center: Occupying or controlling the central squares of the board
- King safety: Protecting your king from potential threats
