Chess Rules

Rules for Chess Boards

Chess rules, and specifically the rules for the design of the chess board, have changed little since the beginnings of the game thousands of years ago:

• Design - The board consists of 64 squares lined-up eight in a row with eight rows.
• Colors - The colors of the squares alternate between a dark-colored square and a light-colored square. Some boards are black and white, some are brown and beige, and some combine contrasting colors of stone.
• Material – Chess boards are available in everything from cardboard to marble.
• Number Designation – In order to describe the travel direction of each chess piece, the individual squares on the chess board are given a designation which consists of a number and a letter. The eight lines running up and down are numbered "one" through "eight". The eight rows are designated by the letters "a" through "h." As an example, the four corners of the chess board are designated as a1, a8, h1 and h8. The numbers and letters are not printed on the board.

Description of Chess Pieces

The theme of the chess pieces can range from the more traditional medieval-looking sets to the more exotic-looking dragon sets. Regardless of the theme, the design parameters used for chess pieces are the same:

• Colors - Traditionally the two armies are created in contrasting colors, typically the same contrasting colors as used on the chess board.
• Material – Chess pieces can be made from a variety of materials including wood, metal, ceramic, stone and plastic.
• Piece Designation - Each army consists of sixteen pieces including:
  • One King – a crowned monarch
  • One Queen – a monarch with a slightly smaller crown than worn by the King
  • Two Rooks – a piece shaped like the turret on a castle
  • Two Bishops – a headdress-topped piece
  • Two Knights – a horse's head
  • Eight Pawns – a small piece that depicts the common soldier

Setting Up the Chess Board

At the beginning of the game, the sixteen pieces of each army are placed on the chess board facing each other:

• First row – Rook, Knight, Bishop, King, Queen, Bishop, Knight and Rook. The white Queen is placed on a white square; the black Queen is placed on a black square. Once the pieces are in place in the first rows, the opposing pieces of each army will be facing each other from across the board.
• Second row – All eight pawns

Rules For Chess Piece Movement

The white army makes the first move. Each army then alternately takes turns moving its respective chess pieces.

Piece Movement

Each chess piece has specific rules for its movement:

• King – can move from square to square in any direction
• Queen – can move either within her line or row or diagonally across multiple squares
• Rooks – can move within its line or row across multiple squares
• Bishops – can move diagonally across multiple squares
• Knights – can move two squares in one direction and then one square in a perpendicular direction
• Pawns – can move two squares straight ahead for the first move and then one square straight ahead thereafter

Capturing Chess Pieces

Each army takes turns moving a chess piece from one square to another. The white army moves the lighter-colored pieces, and the black army moves the darker-colored pieces. If a piece is moved into a square occupied by a piece from the opposing army, the piece is "captured" and taken off the board.

Castling

The King has the option to move two squares to the left or right. The Rook that the King has moved towards can be placed into the square over which the King has jumped. This combination of movements by the King and rook is called "castling."

End of the Game

The game can end in any of these situations:

• A Checkmate or Mate - One army moves their pieces in such a way that the opposing King cannot move without being captured. This inability to move is called a "checkmate." The army that accomplishes the checkmate wins the game
• A Stalemate - If there is no legal move left for the army whose turn it is to move
• Undecided or A Draw – When neither army can checkmate

Resources for Chess Rules

• The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess
• Chess for Children
• Chessmaster 10th Edition