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How to Play Chess – Simple Beginner’s Guide
New to chess? You’re in the right place! This quick guide will show you the basic rules, piece movements, and first strategies. Then you can start playing chess online →
How Chess Works
Chess is a game of pure strategy played on an 8×8 board between two opponents. Each player commands an army of 16 pieces and takes turns moving one piece at a time. The objective is simple: checkmate the opponent's king. If you're wondering how chess works, it all starts with understanding the unique movement patterns of each piece, then combining them into plans and tactics.
Basic Rules of Chess for Beginners
If you're learning chess for the first time, the basic rules of chess are easy to pick up. The game begins with the white side moving first, and players alternate turns. Each piece has its own movement rules, and you win by putting your opponent's king in a checkmate. This beginner’s guide walks you through the rules of chess for beginners with simple explanations and diagrams to help you get started.
First Steps in Chess
Your first steps in chess should focus on learning how the pieces move and how to protect your king. Most beginners start by playing casual games and trying to control the center of the board with their pawns and pieces. This page will help you move from a total beginner to someone who can confidently sit down and play a full game of chess.
Basic Rules of Chess
- The game is played on an 8×8 board
- Each side has 16 pieces: 8 pawns, 2 rooks, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 1 queen, and 1 king
- The goal is to checkmate the opponent’s king
How the Pieces Move
- Pawns: move forward, capture diagonally
- Knights: move in “L” shapes
- Bishops: move diagonally
- Rooks: move straight horizontally or vertically
- Queen: combines rook and bishop movement
- King: moves one square in any direction
Tips for Your First Games
- Control the center with pawns and pieces
- Develop your knights and bishops early
- Castle your king for safety
- Don’t move the same piece twice early on
Want to Dive Deeper?
Explore these beginner topics to strengthen your foundation:
- Motivations behind playing chess
- Introduction to the Chess Pieces
- How the more advanced pieces move
- Check and Checkmate Introduction
- Castling Introduction
- En passant Introduction
- How Games Are Drawn
- Why Correspondence Style Chess?
✅ Want an all-in-one place to start? Visit our Chess for Beginners page — a complete starting guide with links to rules, puzzles, games, and your first video course.
Next Steps
- Play Chess Online – start instantly vs real players
- Play Free Chess – beginner-friendly and relaxed
- Take a Chess Course →