Section
Rules
How the pieces move and the rules of the game. Start here if you're new, or skim if you've ever wondered why en passant exists.
Board Setup
How to correctly place the pieces on the board before a game begins.
Castling
A special two-piece move that tucks the king to safety and activates a rook.
En Passant
A special capturing rule for pawns that happens right after a two-square advance.
How the Bishop Moves
Bishops glide diagonally across the board and stay on one color forever.
How the King Moves
The king is the most important piece, moving exactly one square in any direction.
How the Knight Moves
The knight jumps in an L-shape and is the only piece that can hop over others.
How the Pawn Moves
Pawns march straight forward but capture diagonally, and they never retreat.
How the Queen Moves
The queen is the most powerful piece, combining the straight moves of the rook and the diagonals of the bishop.
How the Rook Moves
Rooks sweep in straight lines horizontally and vertically.
Pawn Promotion
A pawn that reaches the far side of the board transforms into a more powerful piece.
Ranks and Files
The grid system used to name every single square on the chessboard.
The Board from Black's Side
The coordinate map never changes, even when you sit on the opposite side of the board.