Sammy McSamIn this tutorial we will learn how to:
1. win a game of chess!
2. use board coordinates
3. move each piece
Find all this and more on the BGA wiki page at:
[blue]en.doc.boardgamearena.com/Gamehelpchess[/blue]1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment000
Sammy McSam[img]https://x.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/https___x2.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___x.boardgamearena.net_data_tutorials_https___en.doc.boardgamearena.com_images_7_75_Chess_klt45.png[/img]
The objective of chess is to attack the opponent's *King* so that it cannot escape. This is called 'checkmate'!2piece_26000piece_26 1
Sammy McSamIn this tutorial I will use the numbers at the sides of the board and the letters above/below the board to help you know which square to move pieces to.
[blue]*The blue square in the top right corner is a1.*[/blue]
[green]*The green square is b4.*[/green]
What is [red]*the red square*[/red] (where our King is)?3archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment000cell_1_4 3 piece_10 1 piece_18 2
Sammy McSam[blue]The blue square in the top right corner is *a1*.[/blue]
[green]The green square is *b4*.[/green]
[red]The red square[/red] (where our King is) is [red]*e8*[/red]
Great! Now you know how to use board coordinates :)4archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment000cell_1_4 3 piece_10 1 piece_18 2
Sammy McSamIn chess we take alternate turns to move one piece at a time.
Pieces can never move onto other pieces of the *same colour*, but we can move onto pieces of the other colour and remove it from the board. This is called a [red]*capture*[/red]!5archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment000
Sammy McSamWe need to move our pieces into position, but we have a wall of *pawns* blocking most of them!
Pawns move *forward one square* at a time (or two squares on their first move). Go ahead and move our pawn two squares forward to [green]*d5*[/green].1piece_5619d7040c110410cell_3_2 7 cell_3_3 8 piece_7 16
Sammy McSamPawns [red]*capture diagonally one square in front of them*[/red], so both pawns are stuck for now.1piece_7619d70473e4d800cell_2_4 6 cell_4_4 6
Sammy McSamOur opponent has just moved their *Knight*. Knights move in an *L shape*: 2 squares in one direction and 1 square at right angles. The Knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces!1piece_30619d70617e47800
Sammy McSamThe *Bishop* can move to any square along a *diagonal*. Our last move allowed our Bishop on c8 to move along a light-squared diagonal. Let's go ahead and move it out to square [green]*f5*[/green].2piece_6619d70617e47810cell_3_1 7 cell_4_2 7 cell_5_3 8 cell_6_4 7 cell_7_5 7 piece_6 16
Sammy McSamNotice that the two Bishops are not attacking each other. Our Bishop only attacks along light-squared diagonals and our opponent's Bishop only attacks along dark-squared diagonals.
I've highlighted the squares our Bishop can move to.1piece_6619d70685639600cell_2_0 7 cell_3_1 7 cell_3_5 7 cell_4_2 7 cell_4_4 7 cell_6_2 7 cell_6_4 7 cell_7_5 7 piece_21 6
Sammy McSamNext, let's open up a diagonal for our other Bishop. Move our 'e' pawn one square forward to [green]*e6*[/green]2archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment619d70685639610cell_4_2 8 cell_4_3 7 piece_9 16
Sammy McSamMove our other bishop along the dark-squared diagonal out to [green]*b4*[/green]
1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment619d70781c9df10cell_0_5 7 cell_1_4 8 cell_2_3 7 cell_3_2 7 cell_4_1 7 piece_12 16
Sammy McSam[red]*Check!*[/red]
When the *King* is under [red]*attack*[/red], it is 'check'. If the King cannot escape our attack it would be 'checkmate'. However our opponent can block our attack..1piece_12619d7081b88d500piece_26 6
Sammy McSamSo what if we [red]*capture*[/red] the pawn with our Bishop? Let's see what happens.. Move our Bishop to the [red]*c3*[/red] square1piece_12619d70872811010cell_0_3 7 cell_0_5 7 cell_2_3 7 cell_3_2 7 cell_4_1 7 cell_5_0 7 piece_12 16 piece_21 6
Sammy McSam[red]*Check!*[/red] The King is attacked!1piece_12619d708a52cd300piece_26 6
Sammy McSamApart from moving the King, another way to stop check is by [red]*capturing*[/red] a piece. Bye-bye Bishop :(1piece_20619d708ce74b400
Sammy McSamLet's continue developing more of our pieces. Move our Knight out to [green]*f6*[/green]2archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment619d708ce74b410cell_4_1 7 cell_5_2 8 cell_7_2 7 piece_14 16
Sammy McSam[red]*Check!*[/red] This time it is our King under attack!
We cannot [red]capture[/red] the Bishop, so we must *move the King* or *block* the attack. Let's block the check with our other Knight. Move the b8 Knight to [green]*d7*[/green]1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment619d709894d1110cell_2_2 7 cell_3_1 8 piece_4 16 piece_10 6
Sammy McSamAt the moment we cannot move our Knight on d7 because it would place our King in check from their Bishop. So let's move our King off this nasty diagonal.
The King moves *one square* in any direction, or once in the game, can make a special move called '*castling*'..1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment619d70a70709200piece_4 13
Sammy McSamCastling is only possible if the *King* and *Rook* (in the corner of the board) have *not moved* and there are no pieces in the way.
Let's try it out! Move the King to [green]*g8*[/green]2archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment619d70a70709210cell_4_1 7 cell_5_0 7 cell_6_0 8 piece_10 16
Sammy McSamWow not only did our King move two squares, but the Rook moved round the King! Cool move. Now we have a protective line of pawns in front of our King. Good job.
I'll play the next move.1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment619d70acf1ed500
Sammy McSamOur opponent just moved their *Queen*. Queens can not only move just like Bishops along diagonals but also in *any direction* in a straight line as far as she likes. Powerful piece!1piece_24619d70c39fdb500
Sammy McSamRemember how pawns move forward and [red]*capture*[/red] one square diagonally? Let's [red]*capture*[/red] the pawn on [red]*d4*[/red]2piece_5619d70c39fdb510cell_2_4 7 piece_5 16 piece_23 6
Sammy McSamThe *Rook* moves on *orthogonal* lines (side to side and forwards and backwards). Move our Rook on a8 to [green]*c8*[/green]1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment619d70cdc996310cell_1_0 7 cell_2_0 8 piece_2 16
Sammy McSamOur opponent just castled on the queenside!
Their *King moved two squares* (like our King) from e1 to c1 and the Rook landed on d1.1piece_26619d70dd3b2e400
Sammy McSamNow each of our pieces have moved once (not counting pawns) (and okay, our Queen has not moved yet..), let's start the assault on our opponent's King! Move our Knight into the centre of the board ([green]*e4*[/green])2cell_1_7619d70dd3b2e410cell_4_0 7 cell_4_4 8 cell_6_4 7 cell_7_3 7 piece_14 16
Sammy McSamOur opponent's Knight on c3 cannot capture our Knight on e4 because it would place their King in [red]*check*[/red] from our *Rook* on c8..1piece_19619d70e4db03000piece_2 11 piece_20 13
Sammy McSamOur opponent has moved out of the line of our Rook - but into the line of our Bishop! Now is a good time to [red]*capture*[/red] the Knight on [red]*c3*[/red]. Move our Knight to [red]*c3*[/red].1piece_19619d70e91126510cell_2_3 7 cell_3_2 7 cell_3_6 7 cell_5_2 7 cell_6_3 7 cell_6_5 7 piece_14 16 piece_20 6 piece_27 6
Sammy McSam[red]*Check!*[/red] Things are getting interesting now. Let's take it step-by-step:1piece_19619d70eca8be800piece_26 6
Sammy McSam[red]*Check!*[/red] Things are getting interesting now. Let's take it step-by-step:
1. [red]check[/red] from our Knight!2piece_19619d70eca8be800piece_14 11 piece_26 6
Sammy McSam[red]*Check!*[/red] Things are getting interesting now. Let's take it step-by-step:
1. [red]check[/red] from our Knight!
2. [red]check[/red] from our Bishop!
Is it check*mate*?4piece_19619d70eca8be800piece_6 11 piece_26 6
Sammy McSamRemember the King cannot be in check after their move. There are 3 ways to get out of check:
1. [red]*capture*[/red] a piece
2. [blue]*block*[/blue] the check
3. [green]*move the King*[/green]
Let's look at each one.5piece_19619d70eca8be800
Sammy McSam1. [red]*capture*[/red] a piece
Can they capture our Knight with their pawn on *b2*?6piece_19619d70eca8be800piece_14 1 piece_26 6
Sammy McSam1. [red]*capture*[/red] a piece
Can they capture our Knight with their pawn on *b2*?
- *No!* Their King would remain in check from our Bishop :D7piece_19619d70eca8be800piece_6 11 piece_26 6
Sammy McSam2. [blue]*block*[/blue] the check
Can they move a piece to block the check from our Bishop?8piece_19619d70eca8be800
Sammy McSam2. [blue]*block*[/blue] the check
Can they move a piece to block the check from our Bishop?
- *No!* It is still check from our Knight :D9piece_19619d70eca8be800
Sammy McSam3. [green]*move the King*[/green]
Yes.. they can safely move their King to *a1* or *c1*10piece_19619d70eca8be800piece_26 6
Sammy McSamWe have many good moves here. [red]*Capture*[/red] their Queen with our Knight. Move our Knight to [red]*a4*[/red]1piece_15619d70f17b8f711cell_0_6 7 cell_1_7 7 cell_4_4 7 cell_4_6 7 piece_14 16 piece_18 6 piece_24 6 piece_28 6
Sammy McSam[red]*Check!*[/red]
This time our Knight move discovered [red]*check*[/red]
from our *Rook*!1cell_1_4619d70f49a2c800piece_2 11 piece_26 6
Sammy McSamMove our Rook up the board to [green]*c2*[/green] to place the King in check again1cell_1_4619d70f75740810cell_0_0 7 cell_1_0 7 cell_2_1 7 cell_2_2 7 cell_2_3 7 cell_2_4 7 cell_2_5 7 cell_2_6 8 cell_2_7 7 piece_2 16
Sammy McSamTheir King cannot capture our Rook because it would be check from our Bishop again.
Coordinating our pieces like this is at the heart of winning chess :)1piece_2619d70faf221400piece_2 11 piece_6 11 piece_26 6
Sammy McSamLet's [red]*capture*[/red] a pawn with our Queen. Move the queen to [red]*a5*[/red]1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment619d70feab60310cell_0_0 7 cell_1_0 7 cell_1_2 7 cell_2_0 7 cell_2_1 7 cell_4_0 7 cell_4_1 7 cell_5_2 7 cell_6_3 7 cell_7_4 7 piece_8 16 piece_17 6
Sammy McSamCapturing a piece with a pawn is often a good idea, and now it *promotes* to a better piece! [red]*Capture*[/red] the Rook on [red]*b1*[/red].1piece_1619d7141320fd10cell_0_7 7 piece_1 16 piece_18 6
Sammy McSamFrom the four buttons at the top, select the most powerful piece, another Queen!1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment619d71458538f10queen_id 16
Sammy McSamShort lived, but that pawn did well.
Let's [red]*capture*[/red] that Knight with our Queen. Move the Queen to [red]*d7*[/red]1piece_8619d714d337b310cell_0_2 7 cell_0_3 7 cell_0_4 7 cell_1_2 7 cell_1_4 7 cell_1_5 7 cell_2_2 7 cell_2_3 7 cell_2_4 7 cell_3_5 7 cell_4_6 7 cell_5_7 7 piece_8 16 piece_30 6
Sammy McSamAnd move our other Rook into action! Move the Rook on f8 to [green]*c8*[/green]1cell_2_4619d71559dc9310cell_0_0 7 cell_1_0 7 cell_2_0 8 cell_3_0 7 cell_4_0 7 piece_16 16
Sammy McSamOur Bishop is attacked, but their King is more vulnerable, check them! Move our Queen to [green]*d6*[/green]1piece_8619d71709d3bd10cell_0_4 7 cell_1_3 7 cell_2_1 7 cell_2_2 7 cell_3_0 7 cell_3_2 8 cell_4_0 7 cell_4_1 7 piece_8 16
Sammy McSamNow move our Queen in as close as possible next to their King. Move the Queen all the way to [green]*h2*[/green]1piece_8619d718437e3810cell_0_2 7 cell_0_5 7 cell_1_0 7 cell_1_2 7 cell_1_4 7 cell_2_1 7 cell_2_2 7 cell_2_3 7 cell_3_0 7 cell_3_1 7 cell_4_1 7 cell_4_3 7 cell_5_0 7 cell_5_4 7 cell_6_5 7 cell_7_6 8 piece_8 16
Sammy McSam[red]*Check!*[/red]
1. The King cannot [red]capture[/red] our Queen because it would be check from our Rook on c2 :)
2. The check cannot be [blue]blocked[/blue] :)
3. The [green]King must move[/green] to the only square not attacked by our Queen (and other pieces).1piece_8619d71886eaed00cell_5_6 13 cell_6_6 13 cell_7_7 13 piece_2 11 piece_8 11 piece_26 6
Sammy McSamMove our Queen into the corner on [green]*h1*[/green]. Is it *checkmate* yet?1piece_8619d718b5a06c10cell_1_0 7 cell_2_1 7 cell_3_2 7 cell_3_6 7 cell_4_3 7 cell_4_6 7 cell_5_4 7 cell_5_6 7 cell_6_5 7 cell_6_6 7 cell_6_7 7 cell_7_7 8 piece_8 16
Sammy McSamThe Bishop [blue]blocks[/blue] the check. Move our Queen to [green]*g2*[/green], protected by our Rook again (and Bishop).
1cell_6_5619d719349ced10cell_6_6 8 cell_7_6 7
Sammy McSam[red]*Check!*[/red] Only one legal move..1piece_8619d71966022500cell_4_6 13 cell_5_6 13 piece_26 6
Sammy McSamAnd now for the winning move! Can you see it?
Hint: Move our Queen where it attacks every square around their King1cell_6_5619d71992779f10piece_8 16
Sammy McSam1. Can our Queen be [red]*captured*[/red]?1cell_4_3619d719ddd37801piece_26 6
Sammy McSam1. Can our Queen be [red]*captured*[/red]?
- *No!* It would be check from our Bishop (and Rook)2cell_4_3619d719ddd37801
Sammy McSam1. Can our Queen be [red]*captured*[/red]?
- *No!* It would be check from our Bishop (and Rook)
2. Can the check be [blue]*blocked*[/blue]?3cell_4_3619d719ddd37801
Sammy McSam1. Can our Queen be [red]*captured*[/red]?
- *No!* It would be check from our Bishop (and Rook)
2. Can the check be [blue]*blocked*[/blue]?
- *No!* Our Queen is adjacent to the King4cell_4_3619d719ddd37801
Sammy McSam1. Can our Queen be [red]*captured*[/red]?
- *No!* It would be check from our Bishop (and Rook)
2. Can the check be [blue]*blocked*[/blue]?
- *No!* Our Queen is adjacent to the King
3. Can the [green]*King move*[/green] out of check?5cell_4_3619d719ddd37801
Sammy McSam1. Can our Queen be [red]*captured*[/red]?
- *No!* It would be check from our Bishop (and Rook)
2. Can the check be [blue]*blocked*[/blue]?
- *No!* Our Queen is adjacent to their King
3. Can their [green]*King move*[/green] out of check?
- *No!* Our queen attacks every escape square6cell_4_3619d719ddd37801
Sammy McSam1. Can our Queen be [red]*captured*[/red]?
- *No!* It would be check from our Bishop (and Rook)
2. Can the check be [blue]*blocked*[/blue]?
- *No!* Our Queen is adjacent to their King
3. Can their [green]*King move*[/green] out of check?
- *No!* Our queen attacks every escape square
[red]*Checkmate!*[/red] We have won the game :D7cell_4_3619d719ddd37801
Sammy McSam1. Can our Queen be [red]*captured*[/red]?
- *No!* It would be check from our Bishop (and Rook)
2. Can the check be [blue]*blocked*[/blue]?
- *No!* Our Queen is adjacent to their King
3. Can their [green]*King move*[/green] out of check?
- *No!* Our queen attacks every escape square
[red]*Checkmate!*[/red] We have won the game :D
Bonus:
We could also have checkmated with our Knight.8cell_4_3619d719ddd37801
Sammy McSamWell done for making it all the way through this tutorial. You now know how to:
1. use board coordinates
2. move each piece
3. 'castle'
4. promote a pawn (to a Queen)
5. check
6. checkmate!
When is it a draw?
What is 'en passant'?
See the BGA wiki for the answers:
[blue]en.doc.boardgamearena.com/Gamehelpchess[/blue]9archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment619d719ddd37800
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