Chess Basics & Openings In Review 

Piece names, abbreviations, and their value: 

1.      Pawn  __ (no abbreviation)          1 pawn

2.      Knight  =  N                                  3 pawns

3.      Bishop  =  B                                  3 pawns

4.      Rook     = R                                  5 pawns

5.      Queen   = Q                                  9 pawns

6.      King      = K                                  Infinity

 Ranks, Files (names of the squares), Chessboard, and Chess Pieces: 

Ranks are the rows of numbers across the chessboard (1-8).  White is always in 1st & 2nd ranks to start the game, and black is always in 7th & 8th ranks to start the game.

 Files are the columns of letters across the chessboard (a – h).   Each square on the board has a name, and you always use the file first, and rank second to define that name (a1, a2, a3, etc.).  For example, when you start the game, Qd1 is always the starting square for the white queen.  Qd8 is always the starting square for the black queen.  Another way to remember where the queen is placed at the start of a chess match is “queen on color.”  The white queen should be on a white square, and the black queen should be on a black square. 

There are 64 total squares on a chessboard (32 white / 32 black), and each side starts with 16 pieces (8 pawns, 4 minor pieces which are 2 knights & 2 bishops, 3 major pieces which are 2 rooks and a queen, and a king). Piece movements: 

Please read your chess handouts that show you how all the pieces move.  Ask your chess teacher any questions you may have about how the pieces move.  White always moves first in a match.

1.      If you touch your piece, you must move it (if it’s a legal move).

2.      If you touch your opponent’s piece, you must capture it (if it’s a legal move).

3.      If you want to fix a piece on the board, you must say, “I adjust,” before you fix the piece.

4.      If you move your piece, as soon as you let go of the piece your move is finished.  You cannot take back a move (unless it’s an illegal move).

5.      In chess, it is best to think with your head, and not your fingers!  Sit on your hands, or put them in your pockets if you have trouble with this.  In a chess tournament, these rules mayl be enforced!

The object of the game of chess is to put your opponent’s king in checkmate.  In chess, this would count as a win.  If your king is put in checkmate, then this would count as a loss.  If neither player can accomplish checkmate, then the game ends in a draw.  In chess, this would count as a tie.  Also, a player may “resign,” which in chess would still count as a loss.

The term used in chess to describe a move that attacks your or your opponent’s king, but you or your opponent still have a chance to make a legal move to get the king out of jeopardy.  The three ways your or your opponent can escape check are:

1.      Capture the piece that has placed the king in check.

2.      Block the attack with one of your pieces.

3.      Move the king to a position where he is no longer in check.

You can announce “check” when you place your opponent in this position, but it is not required, in fact, in tournaments it is not usual practice to do this.  For beginner’s it is usually a good thing to announce check to ensure your opponent is aware of this.

The term used in chess to describe a move that places you or your opponent’s king in check, and there is no legal move for you or your opponent’s king to escape the check by the three ways described above.  This term is usually announced when you have placed your opponent in this position, but again, not usually in tournament play.  Again, it is good for beginner’s to announce checkmate.

 Remember, the king can never actually be captured.  This is not allowed in chess!  Checkmate is how you win a game of chess, not by actually capturing your opponent’s king.  Also, a king can never legally move into a position in which he could be captured.  If a king can’t legally move because it is boxed in, and you can’t legally move any other piece, the match is a stalemate which is equivalent to a draw. 

Chess openings: 

Typically, the first 8-10 moves you make in a game of chess.  Here are the three basic concepts you should remember about opening moves:

1.      Try to control the center of the board with pawns, and your minor pieces like knights & bishops (Principle of Center Control).  The four squares that comprise the center of the board are e4, d4, d5, and e5.  In the opening, pawns and minor pieces play the key roles.  The major pieces – the queen and the rooks – do not.

2.      Develop your pieces so that you control the center in the least amount of moves (read the Christmas Chess Story for the best example of how to develop your pieces).  Your pieces should support each other, and it is good practice to not move the same pieces more than once in the opening moves (Principle of Development).  The center of the chess board is where the pieces are the most powerful because they can move in the most directions.  If you can control the center, often you can control the game…this is what good piece development is all about.