Chess is a classic game of strategy, originating in India in the sixth century.
Metaphorically the game represents two armies arrayed on the field of battle,
fighting to force the other to surrender. Chess is certainly one of the most
popular games in the world today.
Instructions
Objective
Trap your opponent's King.
Rules
Layout
The game is played on a 8 x 8 board with squares of alternating color.
Each player has sixteen pieces of varying type.
Movement
Each piece in chess moves in its own unique way. With the exception of
the Pawn, pieces capture and move in the same way. Pieces cannot jump
over other pieces, except for the Knight.
Pawn
On its first move a pawn may move one, or two squares vertically
toward the other side. On subsequent moves it may only move
one square.
A pawn may only capture another piece if it is on either of the
two adjecent diagonal squares.
Rook
The Rook may move or perform a capture in any number of squares
horizonally or vertically.
Knight
The Kinght is the only piece that may jump over another piece
as it moves to its final destination. It moves in an 'L' shape,
1 vertical square followed by 2 horizontal, or 2 vertical
followed by 1 horizontal.
Bishop
The Bishop may move or perform a capture in any number of
diagonal squares.
Queen
The Queen may move or perform a capture in any number of
squares in any direction.
King
The King may move or perform a capture one squares in any
direction.
Special Moves
In addition to the normal moves, there are certain specal moves that are
allowed under certain conditions.
En Passant
En Passant (fr "in passing") capture occurs when a pawn makes
its initial move of two squares and jumps past the square where
an existing pawn of the other player could have captured the
pawn being moved. The other player's pawn may then move into
the square where a capture could have occured, and capture the
pawn that has just been moved.
From this position, if white moves forward two spaces:
black captures it en passant:
Castling
Castling allows the King to move two squares toward either of
your rooks, and the Rook to move to the other side of the King.
King's castle (e.g., on the King's side):
Queen's castle (e.g., on the Queen's side):
There are certain restrictions as to when a player may castle:
Neither the King or the Rook in question may have moved,
up to this point in the game.
All of the squares between the King and the Rook in
question must be empty.
The King must not be in check.
The King cannot move though check. If moving though
any of the empty squares between the King and Rook would
put the King in check, then castling is not permitted.
Promotion
If a pawn makes it to the other side of the board then it may
be promoted to any other type of piece (using the "Promote"
drop-down list on the right-side before clicking Send; the
default is to promote to a Queen).
Endgame
Check and Checkmate
If one or more of the other player pieces may capture the King,
then you are in check, and must move out of check immediately by
moving the King or placing another piece in the way. If there
are no moves that will take you out of check, the you are in
checkmate. The game is over, and the other player wins.
Insufficient Pieces
If both players do not have sufficient pieces to put the other
player in checkmate, then the game is a draw.
50-Move Rule
If both players make 50 consecutive moves without moving a pawn
or capturing a piece, then the game is a draw.
Board Repeats 3 Times
If the exact layout of the board is occurs three times during
play, then the game is a draw.
