Chess becomes much easier once the board, pieces, and goal are clear. You do not need an opening repertoire or ten-move calculations to play your first game. Learn how each piece moves, how to make a legal move, and how to protect your king. This guide builds those ideas in order for a complete standard game.
| Rank | a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | black rook on a8 | black knight on b8 | black bishop on c8 | black queen on d8 | black king on e8 | black bishop on f8 | black knight on g8 | black rook on h8 |
| 7 | black pawn on a7 | black pawn on b7 | black pawn on c7 | black pawn on d7 | black pawn on e7 | black pawn on f7 | black pawn on g7 | black pawn on h7 |
| 6 | a6, empty | b6, empty | c6, empty | d6, empty | e6, empty | f6, empty | g6, empty | h6, empty |
| 5 | a5, empty | b5, empty | c5, empty | d5, empty | e5, empty | f5, empty | g5, empty | h5, empty |
| 4 | a4, empty | b4, empty | c4, empty | d4, empty | e4, empty | f4, empty | g4, empty | h4, empty |
| 3 | a3, empty | b3, empty | c3, empty | d3, empty | e3, empty | f3, empty | g3, empty | h3, empty |
| 2 | white pawn on a2 | white pawn on b2 | white pawn on c2 | white pawn on d2 | white pawn on e2 | white pawn on f2 | white pawn on g2 | white pawn on h2 |
| 1 | white rook on a1 | white knight on b1 | white bishop on c1 | white queen on d1 | white king on e1 | white bishop on f1 | white knight on g1 | white rook on h1 |
The board and starting position
A chessboard has 64 squares in eight files, a through h, and eight ranks, 1 through 8. Place it with a light square at each player’s lower-right corner. White starts on ranks 1 and 2; Black on ranks 8 and 7. Each queen starts on her own color: d1 for White and d8 for Black. White moves first, and turns alternate.
Each side has a king, queen, two rooks, bishops, knights, and eight pawns. Rooks move straight, bishops diagonally, queens like either, and knights in an L-shape while jumping over pieces. Pawns move forward and capture diagonally.
- White: king e1, queen d1, rooks a1 and h1, bishops c1 and f1, knights b1 and g1, pawns on rank 2.
- Black: king e8, queen d8, rooks a8 and h8, bishops c8 and f8, knights b8 and g8, pawns on rank 7.
- A move such as Nf3 means a knight moves to f3; x indicates a capture, as in Bxe5.
How the pieces move
Rooks travel unobstructed ranks or files. Bishops travel unobstructed diagonals and stay on one square color. Queens move like either. A knight moves two squares one way and one at a right angle, jumping over pieces. A king moves one square in any direction, but never onto an attacked square.
A pawn normally moves one square forward, or two from its starting rank when both squares are empty. It captures one square diagonally. On reaching the last rank, it must promote to a queen, rook, bishop, or knight; it cannot become a king.
Making a legal turn
A capture moves onto an enemy-occupied square and removes that piece. You cannot capture your own piece or move a sliding piece through another piece. En passant is a special pawn capture available only immediately after an opposing pawn moves two squares from its starting square to a square beside your pawn.
You may not finish a move with your king in check. If attacked, move the king, capture the attacker, or block its line when possible. A move that exposes your king is illegal even if it wins material.
Check, checkmate, and the aim of the game
Check means a king is attacked. The king is never captured; the checked player must make a legal move that removes the attack. Checkmate is check with no legal response, and wins the game immediately. You do not have to announce check, but you must recognize it.
Games can also be drawn, including by stalemate. Good beginner play has two jobs: improve your position safely and check what the opponent’s last move threatens.
A practical plan for your first games
At the start, develop a knight or bishop, contest the center, and try to castle before the king is exposed. Avoid needless repeated moves and early queen trips. Before moving, ask: Is my king safe? Is the destination defended? What did the last move change? These checks prevent many one-move blunders.
Questions and answers
How does a chess game start?
Place the board with a light square at each player’s lower-right, arrange the pieces on ranks 1–2 and 8–7, and let White move first. Players then alternate legal turns.
What makes a chess move legal?
A move must follow the piece’s movement rules, cannot pass a sliding piece through another piece or capture your own, and must leave your king out of check. A move exposing your king is illegal.
Further reading: FIDE Laws of Chess