Chess Club

We have five rule the students have to abide by.

3. Show good Sportsmanship4. Be Gracious

5. Shake hands after each game

2. Raise your hand to ask question1. No Talking

But most of all have FUN

The Board

Pawn

The Pawn• The pawn is the least valuable piece in chess.• It may only move forward, never backwards or sideways. • Pawns also have the most complicated rules for movement. • Pawns move one square directly forward. • However, they cannot capture this way; pawn scan only capture one square forward

diagonally. • In addition, a pawn that is still on its starting square has the option to move two squares

directly forward. • In the diagram above, the pawns may move to the squares marked with black dots, and may

capture pieces on squares marked with an X.

Bishop

The Bishop

• The bishop moves any number of squares diagonally in a straight line.

• Notice that the bishop will always remain on squares of one color during a game.

BISHOP

Knight

The Knight

• The knight can be easily identified; in most chess sets, it looks like a horse’s head.

• The pattern the knight uses to move can be described in several ways.

• In a technical sense, the knight moves one square diagonally in any direction, and then moves one square vertically or horizontally further away from where it started its move.

• This is often described as an “L-shaped” move: the knight moves two squares horizontally or vertically, and then turns at a right angle to move one more square.

KNIGHT

Rook

The Rook

• The rook moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically in a straight line

• Capturing• Like most pieces, the rook cannot jump over other pieces. • However, it can land on a square occupied by an opponent’s piece, removing that piece

from the board. • This is known as capturing a piece. • All pieces are capable of capturing in this manner.

ROOK

Queen

The Queen• The queen combines the abilities of the rook and bishop.

• A queen moves any number of squares in a straight line, in any direction.

• This mobility makes the queen the most powerful piece in chess. Queens and rooks are known as MAJOR PIECES

QUEEN

King

The King• The king moves one square in any direction. • The king is the most important piece in chess. • When a king is attacked by another piece, it is said to be in check. • If the king is in check, it must avoid capture immediately. • If the capture cannot be avoided, the game is over (the king is not actually captured in chess). • This is known as checkmate. • The king also has the ability to perform a special move known as castling.

KING

The diagram below shows how the pieces

should be initially situated.

CHESS THE GAME

• The ultimate aim in the chess game is delivering a checkmate – trapping your • opponent's king. • The term checkmate is an alteration of the Persian phrase "Shāh• Māt", meaning literally, "the King is ambushed", and not "the King is dead", that is • a common misconception. • There are various rules that govern the chess game and a study of these rules is • really important to be a good player. • Unless and until, one has studied the chess • rules in an elaborated manner, they would not be able to handle their opponent in a • better way. • The rules not only make you play the game in the right manner, but also• help you to be aware of the possibilities you have, to beat your opponent. • A • complete knowledge of the chess rules would help you have a strong stand in the • game. • Taking online chess lessons from chess coaches would also help in learning • the game better.

GENERAL CHESS RULES• White is always first to move and players take turns alternately moving one piece at• a time. Movement is required. • If a player’s turn is to move, he is not in check but has no legal moves, this situation is

called “Stalemate” and it ends the game in a draw. • Each type of piece has its own method of movement. • A piece may be moved to another position or may capture an opponent's piece, replacing

on its square (en passant being the only exception). With the exception of the knight, a piece may not move over or through any of the other pieces.

• When a king is threatened with capture (but can protect himself or escape), it’s called check.

• If a king is in check, then the player must make a move that eliminates the threat of capture and cannot leave the king in check.

• Checkmate happens when a king is placed in check and there is no legal move to • escape. • Checkmate ends the game and the side whose king was checkmated looses• . Chess for kids would be a great option to help the kid enhance his thinking capability

with the chess strategies involved. • A good knowledge of the rules would help the kid to play the game in a proficient

manner. • These rules are essential toknow when playing the game. • One can learn to play chess in a better way with the various chess tutorials available with

us.

The initial position setup • The chessboard is made up of eight rows and eight columns for a total of 64

squares• of alternating colors. • Each square of the chessboard is identified with a unique pair • of a letter and a number. • The vertical files are labeled a through h, from White's left (i.e. the queenside) to

White's right. Similarly, the horizontal ranks are numbered from 1 to 8, starting from the one nearest White's side of the board.

• Each square of the board, then, is uniquely identified by its file letter and rank number.

• In the initial position setup, the light queen is positioned on a light square and the• dark queen is situated on a dark square.

Chess moves

• King can move exactly one square horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. • At most once in every game, each king is allowed to make a special move, known

as castling. • Queen can move any number of vacant squares diagonally, horizontally, or

vertically. • Rook can move any number of vacant squares vertically or horizontally. • It also is moved while castling. • Bishop can move any number of vacant squares in any diagonal direction. • Knight can move one square along any rank or file and then at an angle. • The knight's movement can also be viewed as an "L" or “7” laid out at any

horizontal or vertical angle. • Pawns can move forward one square, if that square is unoccupied. • If it has not yet moved, the pawn has the option of moving two squares forward

provided both squares in front of the pawn are unoccupied. • A pawn cannot move backward. • Pawns are the only pieces that capture differently from how they move. • They can capture an enemy piece on either of the two spaces adjacent to the space

in front of them (i.e., the two squares diagonally in front of them) but cannot move to these spaces if they are vacant.

• The pawn is also involved in the two special moves en passant and promotion.

Castling

• Castling is the only time in the chess game when more than one piece moves during a turn.

• .This chess move has been invented in the 1500's to help speeding up the game and improving balance of the offense and defense.

• During the castling, the king moves two squares towards the rook he intends to castle with, and the rook moves to the square through which the king passed.

• Castling is only permissible if all of the following conditions hold: • Neither king nor rook involved in castling may have moved from the original

position; • There must be no pieces between the king and the rook; • The king may not currently be in check, nor may the king pass through or end up in

a square that is under attack by an enemy piece (though the rook is permitted to be under attack and to pass over an attacked square) the game.

En Passant • The idea behind this rule was to retain restrictions imposed by slow movement,

while at the same time speeding up.

• Perhaps the most obscure and least used moves in Chess is called En Passant.

• It can only occur when a player exercises his option to move his pawn two squares on its initial movement.

• When this happens, the opposing player has the option to take the moved pawn "en passant" as if it had only moved one square.

• This option, though, only stays open for one move.

• In the example diagram on the left, the light pawn has just moved forward two squares.

• The dark pawn, may now move to the square with the red dot and remove the light piece.

• The en passant move was developed after pawns were allowed to move more than one square on their initial move.

• This was done to make sure they retained some of the restrictions imposed by slow movement, while at the same time speeding up the game.

Pawn promotion

• If a pawn reaches the opponent's edge of the table, it will be promoted - the pawn may be converted to a queen,rook, bishop or knight, as the player desires.

• The choice is not limited to previously captured pieces.

• Thus its theoretically possible having up to nine queens or up to ten rooks, bishops, or knights if all pawns are promoted.

Chess Openings • A Guide to Chess Openings• "When you see a good move, wait - look for a better one." - Emanuel

Lasker, 2nd World Chess Champion • Because of different chess strategic and tactical patterns, chess game is

divided into three phases: the chess openings, the middlegame, and the endgame.

• The chess openings contain the first moves, when both sides endeavor to develop their forces into the sphere of action where they will exercise the greatest power against the opponent’s defenses.

• The middlegame is the developed phase of the game and then comes the endgame, when most of the pieces are gone and kings start to take an active part in the struggle.

• There are dozens of different chess openings, varying widely in character from quiet positional play to very aggressive.

• In some opening lines, the exact sequence considered best for both sides has been worked out to 30–35 moves or more.

• Professional players spend years studying openings, and continue doing so throughout their careers, as opening theory continues to evolve

Basics of Chess Tutorial• Chess is a game played by two players on a square board comprised of 64 • alternating light and dark squares in eight rows of eight squares each. • Vertical columns on the chessboard are called files, and the horizontal

rows are called ranks.• The diagonal lines are called diagonals. • The chess match is won when one player maneuvers his/her pieces to

checkmate the opponent (this will be discussed later). • Each of the players begins the game with eight pawns and eight "major"

pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks (sometimes known as "castles"), two bishops, and two knights.

• The term "pieces" usually refers to only the eight "major" pieces, but technically can refer to all sixteen chessmen.

• The two players are labeled "White" and "Black" regardless of the actual colors of the pieces.

Setting Up the Board

• Setting Up the Board• Both players should have a light-colored

square in the bottom-right corner as they address the board.

• White's pieces are set up on White's first rank in the following order (left to right): Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen, King, Bishop, Knight, Rook.

• Black's pieces are set up directly across from the White counterparts (i.e. both queens are on the same file).

• Each Queen stands on a square of its own color.

• The pawns are placed on the second rank of each player, directly in front of the pieces.

•

Moving the Pieces • White always moves first, and the players alternate turns. • A player moves by transferring a piece or pawn to another square that is vacant or

occupied by theopponent's piece or pawn. • If the square is occupied (by an opponent's piece or pawn) the moving player

removes, or captures, the opponent's man and replaces with the capturing man. • The only exception is the king, which will be dealt with later. • You do not have to capture a piece if you can (as you must in Checkers, and other

games). • Only one piece is allowed to move per turn (there is one exception, which will be

dealt with later). • Each piece except the knight must move along straight, unobstructed paths. • If there is another piece "in the way", no piece (except the knight) may "hop over"

that piece to reach its intended destination.

Moving the King• The king may move one square in any direction: horizontal, vertical, or diagonal

(see diagram below)

• The king may not move to a square that puts it in danger of capture by an opposing piece on the very next move. This will be discussed more in-depth later.

                                                                                                                                       

Moving the Queen

• The queen moves any number of squares in any direction: horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. The "X" marks below represent where a queen may move.

• She may not pass through other pieces

Moving the Rook• The rook may move any number of squares in the vertical or horizontal direction

(not diagonal).

• He may not pass through other pieces.

Moving the Bishop• The bishop may move any number of squares in the diagonal direction (but not

vertical or horizontal)

• He may not pass through other pieces.

Moving the Knight

• The knight moves in an L-shape, two squares horizontally or vertically, combined with one square at a right angle.

• The knight is the only piece that may move over or around any piece in its way.

The Knight - Jumping

• The knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces.

• However, the knight can only capture a piece if it lands on the same square as that piece – jumping over a piece doesn’t result in capture.

• In the diagram above, the knight can move to any of the squares indicated with a black dot.

• However, it cannot capture any of the black pieces it might jump over.

• Knights and bishops are approximately equal in value.

• Together, they are known as minor pieces.

Moving the Pawn• The pawn moves one square forward

(never backward).

• There are two exceptions to this rule.

• One, the pawn is the only piece that captures differently than it normally moves.

• The pawn captures one square diagonally.

• In the diagram below, if it is white's turn to move, white can capture black's pawn on e4 with its pawn on d5.

• Two, the pawn may move one OR two squares forward on its initial move.

• The white pawn on b7 can move to b6 or b5 on its initial move.

Check and Checkmate - Chess Tutorial

• The object of chess is to "checkmate" your opponent's king. • Checkmate is when the king has no legal move, and is in danger of capture by one

of the enemy's pieces on the next move.• In the diagram below, black's bishop has just put himself in position to capture

White's king on the next move, winning the game. • White must escape his opponent's check (it is illegal not to do so). • If he cannot, the game is over and White is "checkmated." There are 3 ways to stop

the opponent's check. Block the check. • In the diagram below, White can block the check by moving the rook on g4 to d4. • White is no longer in check after that particular move. • Capture the checking piece. • White could also capture Black's bishop with the rook on f3. • Move away from the check. • White may move the king to any safe square (not threatenedby an opposing piece).

White's options are moving the king to c4, b3, and d2. • Notice the White king cannot capture the Black knight because the Black rook

would capture the king on the next move

Check and Checkmate - Chess Tutorial

Check and Checkmate - Chess Tutorial

• Checkmate occurs when one player's pieces put the other's king in check, and • makes it impossible for that player to get out of check. • The diagram below illustrates a checkmate position, in which White wins the game. • Let's review our 3 ways to get out of check.

• Block the check. In the diagram below, Black has no piece that can fit in-between • the White queen and the Black king

• Capture the checking piece. There is no Black piece that threatens the White • queen except the king. Black's king may not take the White queen, because the • bishop guards the square that the queen is on

• Move away from the check. Black's king has no move to escape the White queen's• clutches. The queen guards b5, c5, b3, and c3. The White rook guards a3, a4, and• a5. The White bishop guards the queen at c4.

Check and Checkmate - Chess Tutorial

Draws / Stalemates - Chess Tutorial • There are several ways that a chess match can end in a draw (also called a

stalemate).• When a player has no legal move on his / her turn. • If it's Black's turn to move in the diagram below, the game ends in a stalemate.• Black cannot move the king to any location without putting it in check. • Notice the queen covers every square that the Black king can move to, except b7,

which the white king could capture. • Black's king is not in check, so the position is not checkmate.• Instead it is a draw.

• When there is insufficient material on the board to checkmate either side. • One bishop is not enough to checkmate an opponent. • Neither is one knight. Checkmate can be accomplished with a bishop and a knight,

or one rook, or one queen. If both sides only have their king and one bishop (or knight), the game is a draw.

• When the same position on the board has been seen 3 times. • When 50 moves have gone by with neither team capturing a piece or moving a

pawn. • The last two stalemate scenarios are rarely seen.

Draws / Stalemates - Chess Tutorial

Castling the King - Chess Tutorial

• Each player may choose to "castle" his king once per match. • Castling is the only time a player may move two pieces at one time, and is the only

time that a king may move more than one square per turn.• The player moves the king right two spaces, and places the rook on the immediate • left of the king. • Or the player moves the king left two spaces and places the rook on• the immediate right of the king.• There are several pre-requisites for castling.• Neither the king nor the rook may have moved during the match. • There must be no pieces between the king and the rook. • The king must not be in check on the castling move.• No space between the king and rook may be threatened by an opposing piece.

Castling the King - Chess Tutorial

Pawn Promotion

• If a pawn reaches the final rank (horizontal row), it may be "promoted" to another

• piece. This is done by simply removing the pawn and replacing it with a piece of

• higher rank. A player may add a second queen, or replace the queen lost earlier in

• the match. Any other piece may be substituted as well, however the queen is

• usually the piece of choice.

En Passant (In Passing) Rule • One of the most confusing and overlooked rules of chess is the En Passant (in • passing) rule. Although you may play a hundred games, and never have to use the • En Passant rule, you should know it if your opponent uses it.

• In the diagram below, White's pawn is on the fifth rank (horizontal row). The En • Passant rule is designed to protect White from Black's pawn "sneaking past" • White's pawn by jumping forward two squares (from b7 to b5). If you don't • remember that a pawn can move twice on their initial move only, refer back to • Pawn Moves. Under the En Passant rule, if Black moves the pawn two squares to • b5, the White pawn can take it by moving to b6 (just as if Black had moved the • pawn one square). This must be done on White's next move. He captures the pawn • En Passant, or in passing. The Black pawn on b5 is removed, and White moves its • pawn to b6.

• Note: When given an opportunity to capture a piece En Passant, do not always take it. Too • many novice players jump on the chance to take a pawn En Passant, and do not consider the • situation. As always, look at all your options.

En Passant (In Passing) Rule

• . .

                                                                                                                                                                         

How to Play Chess Summary

• Hopefully you now have a better understanding of the rules of chess. You are only • at the beginning of discovering the endless possibilities a game of chess has to • offer. You'll never play the same game twice, and that's the fun of chess. If you are • looking for a place to play chess with others over the internet, Yahoo! Games is a • good place to start. Don't get frustrated if you can't seem to win right away. Chess • takes practice!

• To further improve your game, check back at Learnthat.com for more in-depth • chess tutorials including End-game Strategy, and Solid Openings, both coming • soon.

A Beginner's Garden of Chess Openings

• The first moves of a chess game are termed the "opening" or "opening moves". A good opening will • provide better protection of the King, control over an area of the board (particularly the center), greater • mobility for pieces, and possibly opportunities to capture opposing pawns and pieces.

• The possible opening moves of chess have been extensively studied for hundreds of years, and many of • these sequences have been given names to simplify discussion of a game.

• This document briefly lists a few of the more well-known chess openings, so that when you see the first few

• moves you can at least say "Ah! That's the X!", where X is some well-known opening. Many books and • encyclopedias give "how to play" information on each opening; here, we'll concentrate on at least knowing • some common approaches to starting chess. This is a small subset of well-known openings; many others

are • not covered here. Before you play a particular opening, you'd be wise to study it in more depth than given • here. Pictures show the opening position; selecting the picture will show the opening moves animated one • move at a time if you have a PGN viewer installed.

• In all openings there is a struggle for key territory, in particular the center squares, and an effort to deploy • pieces and pawns in useful positions. Some are direct, while others are more subtle and indirect approaches• toward these goals.

There are three groups of openings covered here:

• White can start by moving his King's pawn 2 spaces, i.e. playing "e4". This move has • many strengths - it immediately works on controlling the center, and it frees two pieces • (the Queen and a Bishop). This is a popular first move, leaving Black with two options:

– Black may choose to mirror White's move and reply with "e5" for the same reasons, – leading to openings such as the Ruy Lopez, Giuoco Piano (including the Evans– Gambit variant), and King's Gambit.

– Black can also try something other than mirroring White's "e4" move, leading to – openings such as the Sicilian Defense, French Defense, Caro-Kann, Center Counter, – and Pirc/Modern.

• White can start by moving the Queen's pawn to "d4". This leads to openings such as the • Queen's Gambit, King's Indian Defense, Nimzo-Indian, Bogo-Indian, and Queen's Indian Defense, and• Dutch Defense.

• White can start with some other move than "e4" or "d4". One example is the English Opening.• • Each of these openings is briefly described below.

The Ruy Lopez (also called the "Spanish"

opening) starts out as • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 The Ruy Lopez is an old opening; it is named after Ruy Lopez, a • 16th Century Spanish clergyman and chess enthusiast. He made a systematic study of this and • other chess openings, which he recorded in a 150 page book. However, although it is named • after him, this particular opening was known earlier; it is included in the Gottengen • manuscript, which dates from 1490. Popular use of the Ruy Lopez opening did not develop,• however, until the mid 1800's when Jaenisch, a Russian theoretician, "rediscovered" its • potential. The opening is still in active use; it is a favorite of Gary Kasparov and Bobby • Fischer. In it, White creates a potential pin of the d-pawn or Knight and starts an attack • immediately, while simultaneously preparing to castle.

• White generally directs pressure on Black's e-pawn and tries to prepare for a pawn on d4. It's • known that Black's best reply on move 3 is a6, which attacks White's attacking bishop. After • that, White can back up (Ba4) or exchange pieces (Bxc6).

The Ruy Lopez (also called the "Spanish" opening) starts out as

                           

   

Giuoco Piano

• This "Quiet Game" has White performing a mild attack with his Bishop, but Black is often able to even up the game with his defenses. It starts as: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 If White then replies "d3", you have the "Guioco Pianissimo" ("The Quietest Game") - a very passive game.

• If White replies with "b4?!", you have the "Evans Gambit", in which White offers a pawn in exchange for a powerful center and possibly opening his Queen Bishop.

Giuoco Piano

                           

   

                           

   

King's Gambit

• This opening was the most popular opening in the 1800s. White offers a pawn in exchange for rapid development. It's rarely seen now at the master level; according to Keene it's been found that Black can obtain a reasonable position (giving nothing for White's pawn). 1. e4 e5 2. f4 A natural following move is "exf4" accepting the gambit.

Sicilian Defense

• The Sicilian starts as: 1. e4 c5 The Sicilian is popular at the master level. Black immediately fights for the center, but by attacking from the c-file (instead of mirroring White's move) he creates an asymmetrical position that leads to lots of complicated positions. Black tries to attack White's e-pawn, often through a Knight at f6 and Bishop at b7. Black would like to make the move "d5" without retribution.

                        

      

Sicilian Defense

• The Sicilian has been extensively studied, and there are many variations. A popular variation is the "Dragon" variation, which starts as: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 In this variation, Black finachettos a bishop on the h8-a1 diagonal. This is called the "Dragon" variation because Black's pawn structure is supposed to look like a dragon.

Sicilian Defense

• Another variation that's quite popular is the "Najdorf" variation. It starts just like the Dragon, and diverges on Black's move 5: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 According to Grandmaster Daniel King White often responds with "Be2", permitting Black to attack the center with "e5!".

• !".

                           

   

French Defense

• In the French Defense, Black lets White have more control over the center, in • exchange for which he builds a (hopefully) safe wall of pawns. The French Defense• starts as:

• 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 Games generally involve jockeying for position. The center • usually becomes closed, two competing pawn chains arise, and each player tries to • outflank the other. White generally tries to play e5; Black tries to play c5 or f6. • Black's queen Bishop often becomes trapped and useless, and it's known as the • "French Bishop".•

                        

      

Caro-Kann

• The Caro-Kann is like the French defense - Black lets White build control of the • center, and Black tries to get a pawn at d5. It looks like a "wimpy Sicilian". The • Caro-Kann starts out as: • 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 The main line of the Caro-Kann is • 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 Black gets to eliminate one of White's central pawns • and can get his pieces developed, which is an advantage over the French Defense. • However, Black's pieces end up with more of a passive defensive role, so players of • this opening are often looking for White to make a mistake (however slight).

Center Counter

• The Center Counter starts out as:

• 1. e4 d5 This opening is also called the "Scandinavian" opening. A common continuation is exd5 Qxd5

.

                           

   

Pirc/Modern

• This opening goes by various names, such as "Pirc" and "Modern". It starts: 1. e4 d6 or 1. e4 g6 Keene labels the "Modern Defense" as the sequence: 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 This is a relatively new opening. In the 1930s this was considered inferior, but by the 1960s it was found to be quite playable. Black lets White take the center with the view to undermining and ruining White's "wonderful" position. This opening is tricky to play and correct play of it is counter-intuitive (immediate center control is not a goal, since Black is trying to undermine that control).

King's Indian Defense

• This is a "hypermodern" opening, where Black lets White take the center with the view to later ruining White's "wonderful" position. It's a risky opening, a favorite of both Kasparov and Fischer. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 Black will be interested in playing c5, and when White plays d5, reply with e6 and b5.

Nimzo-Indian, Bogo-Indian, and Queen's Indian Defense

• All of these "Indian" defenses start with: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 The Nimzo-Indian continues with "Nc3 Bb4". In the Nimzo-Indian, White tries to create a pawn center and mass his pieces behind behind them for attack.

Dutch Defense

• The Dutch defense starts as: 1. d4 f5 The Dutch defense is an aggressive counterplay by Black. Black immediately begins to move toward White's kingside in an attempt to crush White. However, it also creates weaknesses in Black's position from the beginning - this move of the f-pawn weakens Black's defenses and doesn't help develop pieces.

English Opening

• The English opening is a "flank" manuever. It starts very differently: 1. c4 Here White hopes to control the center by first gaining support on the side. A common response for Black is "c5

                        

      

The most important thing that you need to

learn from chess is have

FUN!