Rachel's Guide to Chess

Chess, is a great game though thousands of years old. 32 black and white pieces each trying to trap the opponents King.

Chess is one of the most popular board games and has been played all over the world for thousands of years. It's a game of strategy and technique.

The Pieces

Pawns

Pawns are the pieces that cover the front of the two rows on each side of the chess board. On a pawns first move it can pass over two squares but once they have moved from their original place they can only move one.

A pawn can only take pieces diagonally. If your pawn gets to the opposite end of the board you can replace it with another more important piece of your own.

Knights

The knight is the back-row piece which sits one in from the side and looks like a horse. The knight can only move in an L shape (two forward and one across).

The knight can move over pieces but this does not get them out, the knight has to land on them to take them.

The Rook (Or Castle)

The Rooks sit in each corner of the board. They can only move straight (North, South, East and West). The Rook can't go diagonally at all, not even when taking other pieces.

The Bishop

The Bishops sit either side of the King and Queen, one on white and the other on black. It can move any amount of spaces but can only go diagonally.

The Queen

The Queen is a very important piece. It can go straight or diagonally and it sits next to the King. The white queen sits on the white square facing the black queen who sits on the black square.

Once you've lost the Queen you have less of a chance of winning the game for no other piece can move in all directions.

The King

The King, the most important of all pieces on the board, sits next to the Queen facing the opposing King. This piece can only move one square at a time, in any direction.

Once the King is in check in every direction he can move, the game has ended.

Playing Chess

Now we can refer to the board again. The start of the game is when all the pieces get moved into position.

White moves first. A good first move would be the kings pawn. That sets the queen and the bishop free. But don't forget to start planing a strategy to win.

Your opponent might make the same move, it's now a good idea to let another one of your pieces free, your opponent will probably do the same. Your goal in the opening game is to get as many pieces onto the playing field as you can, and into position.

Once everyone's pieces are in play, it's time to start thinking hard about how to get your opponents king into check. You're now in 'The Middle Game'. Look at the pieces of yours and your opponents, see if your opponent has left a gap for you to get the king in check.

Sometimes you will spot and opening, other times you will find that you can't move anywhere without your opponent taking your piece. But if you find an opening, use it. Always say the word 'Check' when you get your opponents king.

Once you get the king in check, you've got to keep pushing him, push him into a corner, take as many of your opponents pieces as you can to try and get the king in check.

But look out, if you fail to get the king in check once, your opponent has an opportunity to get you back. If he puts you in check then you can't do anything except get him out of it.

Don't do moves in a hurry, think about what you can do to escape, look at the pieces on the board, find an escape hole that will postpone your opponent getting you into check again.

The 'End Game' is not far away. That is when one person check mates the other.

All your remaining pieces should be trying to checkmate your opponents king now. Try and think a few goes ahead, try and get check mate in one move.

If you win, say 'Check Mate' and the game is over.

A Quick Win

Want to know a way to Check Mate your opponents king in four simple moves? Well, here they are!

First, move the kings pawn two spaces. After your opponents turn, move the bishop to C4. Then move the queen to F3. Finally, move the queen straight ahead to F7.

If the king is on E8, and the queen is on F7, then they are diagonal to each other. It may look like the king can take the queen but the bishop is protecting it, so if your opponent does do that, then they will still be in check.

Also, watch out if your opponent does that. if you think that he /she is planing it, put your knight on F6. That should work.

Have Fun!

Rachel Tapscott