5 Mistakes Almost Every Beginner Makes
The habits that quietly lose games, and the easy fixes for each.
Read the guide →Chess Basics
Common beginner mistakes to avoid
Most beginner losses come from a handful of repeated mistakes.
Why You Keep Hanging Pieces
The number-one beginner blunder and a simple routine to stop it.
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
Basic etiquette and how to play online