How to Play Chess
Chess is played on an 8x8 board between two sides, White and Black. Each side has a king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. White moves first, then players alternate turns.
Each piece moves in its own way: rooks move in straight lines, bishops move diagonally, the queen combines both, knights jump in an L-shape, and pawns move forward and capture diagonally. The goal is checkmate — trapping the opponent's king so it cannot escape capture.
Beginners do well to control the centre, develop knights and bishops early, and keep the king safe by castling. Practise with puzzles to recognise common tactics.
