Guides

Chess Basics

Everything a brand-new player needs — the pieces, the rules, and the habits that make chess click.

Reading and writing chess notation · 5 min read Beginner

Record your games so you can review them and improve later.

How each piece moves · 5 min read Beginner

The three long-range pieces and the squares they control across the board.

Check, checkmate, and stalemate explained · 4 min read Beginner

The only three legal responses when your king is under attack.

Check, checkmate, and stalemate explained · 5 min read Beginner

The three situations beginners mix up the most, finally made clear.

Special moves: castling, en passant, promotion · 3 min read Beginner

Reach the far side and upgrade your pawn; here's exactly how it works.

Special moves: castling, en passant, promotion · 4 min read Beginner

The pawn capture that surprises every beginner, with clear examples.

Special moves: castling, en passant, promotion · 5 min read Beginner

The rules for castling kingside and queenside, and the times you can't.

Setting up the board correctly · 3 min read Beginner

A simple memory trick so you never set the board up backwards again.

Setting up the board correctly · 3 min read Beginner

Light square on the right, queen on her own color, and where every piece goes.

How each piece moves · 4 min read Beginner

Forward one square, capturing diagonally, and that first-move two-square option.