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New to chess? This page teaches you how the board works, how to set up the pieces, how each piece moves, and how to play your first game.
1. Learn the Board
A chessboard has 64 squares: 8 rows and 8 columns. The rows are called ranks and the columns are called files. Each square has a name, like e4 or d5. When setting up the board, make sure there is a light square in the bottom-right corner.
Quick rules:
- White on right: the bottom-right square should be light.
- Files: columns are labeled a through h.
- Ranks: rows are numbered 1 through 8.
2. Set Up the Pieces
Each player starts with 16 pieces: 8 pawns, 2 rooks, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 1 queen, and 1 king.
Setup rules:
- Rooks go in the corners.
- Knights go next to the rooks.
- Bishops go next to the knights.
- The queen goes on her own color.
- The king goes on the remaining center square.
- Pawns go in front of all the pieces.
3. Learn the Pieces
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Pawn
Moves forward one square and captures diagonally. On its first move, it may move two squares. Promotes when it reaches the other side.
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Knight
Moves in an L-shape and can jump over pieces.
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Bishop
Moves diagonally as far as it wants.
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Rook
Moves horizontally or vertically as far as it wants.
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Queen
Moves horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
King
Moves one square in any direction and cannot move into check.
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4. How to Play Your First Game
White moves first. Players take turns moving one piece at a time. The goal is to checkmate the opponent’s king, which means the king is in check and has no legal way to escape.
Beginner rules:
- Check: your king is under attack.
- Checkmate: your king is under attack and cannot escape.
- Stalemate: a player has no legal moves, but their king is not in check.
- Illegal move: you cannot move your king into check.
5. Special Moves to Learn Later
Castling
A king and rook move together to help protect the king.
Promotion
A pawn that reaches the other side becomes a queen, rook, bishop, or knight.
En Passant
A special pawn capture that happens only in a specific situation.
Practice With Interactive Boards
Click Start, then use the arrows to go through each move. The board will show how the piece moves and captures. To try moving the piece on your own, click the three dots on the Lichess board and select Analysis board.