How to Play Chess Online for the First Time
Choosing a site, picking a time control, and what all the buttons mean.
Read the guide →Chess Basics
Basic etiquette and how to play online
Ready to play? Start online the right way, with good manners.
Chess Etiquette: Touch-Move and Good Manners
The unwritten rules that keep games friendly, online and over the board.
Read the guide →More in Chess Basics
← All Chess Basics
How each piece moves
Setting up the board correctly
Special moves: castling, en passant, promotion
Check, checkmate, and stalemate explained
Reading and writing chess notation
The value of the pieces
Rules, draws, and how a game ends
The three phases: opening, middlegame, endgame
Common beginner mistakes to avoid