Learn
Learn by making the moves: each lesson is a few short tasks on a board. Then read the rules and guides at your own pace.
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StartHow the pieces move
1. RookThe rook moves in straight lines, as far as it likes until something is in the way.3 tasks
2. BishopThe bishop moves diagonally, any distance. It always stays on squares of one colour.3 tasks
3. QueenThe queen is a rook and a bishop in one: straight lines and diagonals.2 tasks
4. KingThe king moves one square in any direction.2 tasks
5. KnightThe knight moves in an L shape and jumps over other pieces.3 tasks
6. PawnThe pawn moves one square forward — two from its starting square.2 tasks
Basics
Special rules
- 10. CastlingA special move of king and rook together. Move the king two squares towards the rook.2 tasks
11. En passantA pawn that just moved two squares can be captured as if it had moved one — on the very next move.1 tasks- 12. PromotionA pawn that reaches the last rank becomes a queen, rook, bishop or knight.1 tasks
13. StalemateNot in check but no legal move: the game is a draw. Watch out when you are winning.1 tasks
Read
- Chess rulesThe rules of chess with FIDE article numbers: how each piece moves, castling, en passant, promotion, check, and every way a game ends.
- How to play chessSet up the board, learn what each piece is worth and play your first chess game with a simple plan. Then invite a friend by link or QR code.
- OpeningsFour habits for the first ten moves, and ten openings by their first moves.
- TacticsForks, pins, skewers, discovered and double checks — short moves that win material.
- Checkmate patternsMating with a queen or rook, back-rank and smothered mates, and the traps that end a game in four moves.
- EndgamesThe opposition, the rule of the square, and the two rook endings every player meets.