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* Before you move, check to make sure that you have protected most or all of your pieces.
For the rules of chess, see <b>[[Gamehelpchess|GameHelpChess]]</b>
* In the opening, try to:
 
** Control the center of the board
{{infoBox |maxWidth=420
** ''Develop'' pieces (especially knights and bishops) by moving them off the back rank
|title=Piece values
** Do not play like T-Stone. If you do, you will lose in two moves.
|body=<center><b>Did you know?
** Generally, making a lot of queen moves in the opening is a bad idea.
 
** Try not to move the same piece multiple times. It is better to get everyone on the field before you start attacking.
{{BlackKnight}}≈ 3×{{blackPawn}}
* Keep your king safe behind other pieces (often pawns).
{{BlackBishop}}≈ 3×{{blackPawn}}
* Advanced tips:
{{BlackRook}}≈ 5×{{blackPawn}}
** If you don't feel immediately threatened and are not sure what to do, try to focus on your opponents most vulnerable piece. This might be a minor piece (Bishop or Knight) that is cut off from its allies, or even just a pawn that is not being defended.
{{BlackQueen}}≈ 9×{{blackPawn}}</b>
** Don't be afraid to retreat if you have to. Fighting over an already lost position might only make things worse.
It is generally accepted that Bishops and Knights are worth 3 Pawns and Rooks are worth 5 Pawns. Keep this is mind when you are making trades. For example, giving up a Knight to take a Rook is a good deal, but a Bishop for a Knight is about even.</center>}}
** It is generally accepted that Bishops and Knights are worth 3 Pawns and Rooks are worth 5 Pawns. Keep this is mind when you are making trades. For example, giving up a Knight to take a Rook is a good deal, but a Bishop for a Knight is about even.
 
** Your Queen is your most powerful piece, but also your biggest liability. Losing it without also taking out your opponents Queen will make it very difficult to win. Don't let it get caught!
== On Every move ==
 
=== Look at your opponent's last move ===
 
What does it change?
: Can I capture my opponent's piece?
: Is my opponent threatening to capture any of my pieces?
:: Can I recapture?
:: Can I move my attacked piece to a safer square?
:: Can I threaten to capture a piece of at least the same value?
: Is another piece unprotected?
 
=== Look at the square you are moving to ===
 
Can my opponent capture this piece if I move it here?
: Can I recapture?
Can I find a better move?
 
=== Example thought process ===
 
{{infoBox |maxWidth=440
|title=Example thought process
|body=<center>The black knight just moved from e5 to d3.
 
What would you play here?
{{chessboard | lightSquareColour=#efe | darkSquareColour=#cdc
| a8={{blackRook}}  | b8={{blackRook}}  | c8=              | d8={{blackQueen}} | e8=              | f8=              | g8=              | h8={{blackKing}} 
| a7=              | b7=              | c7=              | d7=              | e7=              | f7={{blackPawn}}  | g7={{blackPawn}}  | h7={{blackPawn}}
| a6=              | b6=              | c6=              | d6=              | e6=              | f6=              | g6=              | h6=             
| a5=              | b5=              | c5=              | d5=              | e5=              | f5=              | g5={{whiteKnight}}| h5=             
| a4=              | b4=              | c4={{blackPawn}}  | d4=              | e4={{whitePawn}}  | f4=              | g4={{blackBishop}}| h4=
| a3=              | b3=              | c3=              | d3={{blackKnight}}| e3={{whiteBishop}}| f3=              | g3=              | h3=             
| a2=              | b2=              | c2=              | d2={{whiteQueen}} | e2=              | f2={{whitePawn}}  | g2={{whitePawn}}  | h2={{whitePawn}}
| a1=              | b1=              | c1=              | d1=              | e1={{whiteRook}}  | f1={{whiteRook}}  | g1={{whiteKing}}  | h1=
}}</center>}}
* My opponent moved their knight
** Can I capture this knight?
*** Yes, with my queen!
**** But then my queen will be captured by their queen - bad move
** This knight is threatening to capture a pawn
*** I can recapture - no problem
** This knight is also threatening to capture my rook!
*** Where can I move my rook this turn?
**** I can move my rook to the left one square
***** It can be captured by a bishop there
**** I can move my rook to the left two squares
***** The knight can also capture it there
**** I can move my rook to the a-file or the b-file
***** It can only be captured by another rook those squares
****** I can recapture, so moving my rook to that square is OK
** Their knight move left a pawn unprotected
*** I can now capture this pawn with my knight
**** This also places my opponent's king in check
**** This also threatens to capture their queen!
***** I move my knight to capture the pawn on f7
 
== At the start of the game ==
 
# Move a pawn to control one of the central 4 squares of the board
# Move Knights and Bishops to control the centre
# Castle with your King and Rook
# Move both knights and both bishops at least once before moving the queen or one piece multiple times
{{infoBox |maxWidth=440
|title=Castling
|body=<center>The fastest castle can be completed in just 4 moves!
{{chessboard | lightSquareColour=#efe | darkSquareColour=#cdc
| a8={{blackRook}}  | b8={{blackKnight}}| c8={{blackBishop}}| d8={{blackQueen}} | e8={{blackKing}}  | f8={{blackBishop}}| g8={{blackKnight}}| h8={{blackRook}}
| a7={{blackPawn}}  | b7={{blackPawn}}  | c7={{blackPawn}}  | d7={{blackPawn}}  | e7={{blackPawn}}  | f7={{blackPawn}}  | g7={{blackPawn}}  | h7={{blackPawn}}
| a6=              | b6=              | c6=              | d6=              | e6=              | f6=              | g6=              | h6=             
| a5=              | b5=              | c5=              | d5=              | e5=              | f5=              | g5=              | h5=             
| a4=              | b4=              | c4={{whiteBishop}}| d4=              | e4={{whitePawn}}  | f4=              | g4=              | h4=             
| a3=              | b3=              | c3=              | d3=              | e3=              | f3={{whiteKnight}}| g3=              | h3=             
| a2={{whitePawn}}  | b2={{whitePawn}}  | c2={{whitePawn}}  | d2={{whitePawn}}  | e2=              | f2={{whitePawn}}  | g2={{whitePawn}}  | h2={{whitePawn}}
| a1={{whiteRook}}  | b1={{whiteKnight}}| c1={{whiteBishop}}| d1={{whiteQueen}} | e1=              | f1={{whiteRook}}  | g1={{whiteKing}}  | h1=
}}</center>}}
* After '''''castling''''', avoid moving the protective pawns in front of your king
* Avoid moving your second most valuable piece - the queen - until the middle of the game
 
== In the middle of the game ==
 
Once you have completed the above, decide on where to attack - usually one of:
* In the ''centre''
* On the ''kingside'' (the half of the board where the kings start: files e through h)
* On the ''queenside'' (the half of the board where the queens start: files a through d)
 
* Use knights and bishops to attack the same squares, often an opponent's pawn
** a typical early target can be the f2/f7 pawn which can only be recaptured by the king at the start of the game
 
== Near the end of the game ==
 
* With fewer pieces on the board, pawns become more important
** Try not to lose too many pawns
** Try to promote a pawn to a new queen!
* With few pieces on the board (and minimal chance of checkmate), the king is a fighting piece!
** Use your king to help promote your own pawns or capture your opponent's pawns

Latest revision as of 00:22, 27 December 2022

For the rules of chess, see GameHelpChess

Piece values
Did you know?

Knight ≈ 3×Pawn

Bishop ≈ 3×Pawn

Rook ≈ 5×Pawn

Queen ≈ 9×Pawn

It is generally accepted that Bishops and Knights are worth 3 Pawns and Rooks are worth 5 Pawns. Keep this is mind when you are making trades. For example, giving up a Knight to take a Rook is a good deal, but a Bishop for a Knight is about even.

On Every move

Look at your opponent's last move

What does it change?

Can I capture my opponent's piece?
Is my opponent threatening to capture any of my pieces?
Can I recapture?
Can I move my attacked piece to a safer square?
Can I threaten to capture a piece of at least the same value?
Is another piece unprotected?

Look at the square you are moving to

Can my opponent capture this piece if I move it here?

Can I recapture?

Can I find a better move?

Example thought process

Example thought process
The black knight just moved from e5 to d3.

What would you play here?

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
8
Rook
Rook
Queen
King
8
7
Pawn
Pawn
Pawn
7
6
6
5
Knight
5
4
Pawn
Pawn
Bishop
4
3
Knight
Bishop
3
2
Queen
Pawn
Pawn
Pawn
2
1
Rook
Rook
King
1
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
  • My opponent moved their knight
    • Can I capture this knight?
      • Yes, with my queen!
        • But then my queen will be captured by their queen - bad move
    • This knight is threatening to capture a pawn
      • I can recapture - no problem
    • This knight is also threatening to capture my rook!
      • Where can I move my rook this turn?
        • I can move my rook to the left one square
          • It can be captured by a bishop there
        • I can move my rook to the left two squares
          • The knight can also capture it there
        • I can move my rook to the a-file or the b-file
          • It can only be captured by another rook those squares
            • I can recapture, so moving my rook to that square is OK
    • Their knight move left a pawn unprotected
      • I can now capture this pawn with my knight
        • This also places my opponent's king in check
        • This also threatens to capture their queen!
          • I move my knight to capture the pawn on f7

At the start of the game

  1. Move a pawn to control one of the central 4 squares of the board
  2. Move Knights and Bishops to control the centre
  3. Castle with your King and Rook
  4. Move both knights and both bishops at least once before moving the queen or one piece multiple times
Castling
The fastest castle can be completed in just 4 moves!
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
8
Rook
Knight
Bishop
Queen
King
Bishop
Knight
Rook
8
7
Pawn
Pawn
Pawn
Pawn
Pawn
Pawn
Pawn
Pawn
7
6
6
5
5
4
Bishop
Pawn
4
3
Knight
3
2
Pawn
Pawn
Pawn
Pawn
Pawn
Pawn
Pawn
2
1
Rook
Knight
Bishop
Queen
Rook
King
1
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
  • After castling, avoid moving the protective pawns in front of your king
  • Avoid moving your second most valuable piece - the queen - until the middle of the game

In the middle of the game

Once you have completed the above, decide on where to attack - usually one of:

  • In the centre
  • On the kingside (the half of the board where the kings start: files e through h)
  • On the queenside (the half of the board where the queens start: files a through d)
  • Use knights and bishops to attack the same squares, often an opponent's pawn
    • a typical early target can be the f2/f7 pawn which can only be recaptured by the king at the start of the game

Near the end of the game

  • With fewer pieces on the board, pawns become more important
    • Try not to lose too many pawns
    • Try to promote a pawn to a new queen!
  • With few pieces on the board (and minimal chance of checkmate), the king is a fighting piece!
    • Use your king to help promote your own pawns or capture your opponent's pawns
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