How to Play Chess

Chess is the world's most famous strategy game. This guide explains how every piece moves and gives simple tips so kids can win their first games.

What is Chess?

Each player starts with 16 pieces: 8 pawns, 2 rooks, 2 knights, 2 bishops, a queen and a king. White moves first. The goal is checkmate: attacking the other king so it cannot escape.

How to play Chess

Tap or click a piece to see its moves (dots), then tap a dot to move. Use Undo to take back a move and the menu to choose easy, medium or 2 players.

Step by step

1. Pawns move one square forward (two on their first move) and capture diagonally.
2. Rooks move in straight lines; bishops move diagonally; the queen does both.
3. Knights jump in an L shape: two squares one way, then one square sideways.
4. The king moves one square in any direction and must never move into check.
5. When your king is attacked, you are in check and must get out of it.
6. Checkmate is when the king is in check and has no escape. That ends the game.

Strategy tips to play better

• Control the centre early with your e and d pawns.
• Bring out knights and bishops before moving the queen.
• Castle early to keep your king safe.
• Before every move, check whether your piece can be captured for free.
• Trade pieces when you are ahead in material.

What kids learn

• Strategic thinking
• Planning ahead
• Concentration
• Pattern recognition

For parents and teachers

Chess suits kids from about age 6. The easy computer level and the Undo button make it friendly for beginners.