Millions of people are learning the game of chess. It is sometimes called Western chess or international chess to distinguish it from is predecessors. The current form of the game came from Southern Europe in the early sixteenth century, late 15th century. Although it’s been around for centuries, it is still today one of the most popular games around. It is played in clubs, tournaments, and just for fun. It can be played by adults and children. Any chess player though, will tell you that if you’re going to play chess, playing chess by the rules is a must. There are many rules to the game of chess and everyone has to follow them if they wish to play. And in order to play by the rules, you need to know the rules.
Knowing the rules
In the game of chess there are many rules you need to know and understand in order to play. We will have quick look at the different rules that need to be followed when playing chess so that you will be able to play chess by the rules.
Setting up the Board
The game is played on a square checker board with 64 squares. The pieces are placed in the first two rows nearest the players in a specific order. The second row from the player contains the 8 pawns. The row nearest to the player contains the rest of the pieces: rooks are placed on the outside corners, knights are placed inside next to the rooks, bishops are placed right next to the knights, the queen is placed on the central square of the same color of that player (white on white; black on black), and the king takes the only spot left next to the queen.
Chess Piece movement rules
Each piece of a chess game has its own movement rules. In order to play chess by the rules you need to know the rules of movement for each chess piece. They are as follows:
Pawns- have a somewhat more complex movement of rules. They can move forward only one square if it is vacant unless it has not moved yet and then it can move forward two squares. They capture differently than how they move; they can only move straight, but they can capture pieces on either of the two spaces adjacent to the space in front of them. If they go the distance and make it to the other side of the board they are promoted to a different chess piece; most often the queen.
The rook can move any number of empty squares vertically or horizontally. It is also the piece that moves when castling.
The bishop moves only in a diagonal direction to vacant squares.
The knight moves in an L-shape direction. It is the only chess piece that can jump over other pieces.
The queen is the most powerful piece in the game as she can move in any direction on the board.
The king is the most important piece in chess because if he is put into check or check mate you lose the game. The king can move to any square so long as it is not being threatened by an enemy piece.
There is also a rule called castling which happens with the king and the rook piece. Castling consists of moving the king two squares towards a rook, then placing the rook on the other side of the king; adjacent to it. Castling is only permissible under certain conditions.
Playing chess by the rules is crucial to being able to play the game at all. Understanding the rules is the first step; the next thing you will need to learn is a good winning strategy.
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