King
Moves one square in any direction. It may never move onto a square attacked by an opponent.
Beginner chess guide
How to play chess
Chess is a two-player strategy game. You win by trapping the opposing king in checkmate. This guide teaches the board, every piece, the special rules, and a dependable plan for your first game.
1. Set up the chess board
Turn the board so each player has a light square in the bottom-right corner. The second row is filled with eight pawns. On the back row, place rooks in the corners, then knights, then bishops. The queen goes on her own colour: White’s queen on a light square and Black’s queen on a dark square. The king takes the remaining square.
White always moves first. Players alternate one move at a time; passing a turn is not allowed.
2. Learn how every piece moves
Queen
Moves any number of open squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
Rook
Moves any number of open squares horizontally or vertically.
Bishop
Moves diagonally across any number of open squares and stays on one square colour.
Knight
Moves in an L shape: two squares one way, then one sideways. It is the only piece that can jump over pieces.
Pawn
Moves forward one square, or two from its starting square when clear. It captures one square diagonally forward.
3. Understand check, checkmate, and draws
Your king is in check when an enemy piece attacks it. You must immediately move the king, block the attack, or capture the attacking piece. A move that leaves your own king in check is illegal.
Checkmate happens when the king is in check and no legal move can save it. The attacking player wins. Stalemate is different: the player to move is not in check but has no legal move, so the game is a draw. Games can also be drawn by agreement, repeated positions, the fifty-move rule, or insufficient mating material.
4. Know the three special moves
Castling
Castling moves the king two squares toward a rook and places that rook beside the king. The king and rook must not have moved, the squares between them must be empty, and the king cannot castle out of, through, or into check.
Pawn promotion
When a pawn reaches the farthest rank, it must become a queen, rook, bishop, or knight. A queen is common, but another piece can sometimes be better.
En passant
If an enemy pawn advances two squares from its starting position and lands beside your pawn, your pawn may capture it as though it moved only one square. This option exists only on the immediately following move.
5. Use a simple plan in your first game
- Control the centre. Central pawns and pieces influence more of the board.
- Develop knights and bishops. Bring them into the game before moving the same piece repeatedly.
- Castle early. A safer king lets you focus on the rest of the board.
- Do not rush the queen. An early queen can be chased while your opponent develops.
- Scan before moving. Look for checks, captures, and threats for both players.
6. Improve one game at a time
Start with an untimed local game or Easy Bot so you can think carefully. After the game, find the first move where you lost material or missed a threat. Solve short tactical puzzles to recognize forks, pins, and checkmates. When the safety scan becomes automatic, move to longer rated games and review them.
Burger31 Chess also offers a public 10-week Academy with Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced tracks, plus a fresh Daily Puzzle and an interactive Story Mode.
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