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Chess is a two-player strategy game played on an 8×8 board of sixty-four squares. Each player begins with sixteen pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. White moves first, then players alternate turns. The aim is to attack the opposing king so that it is in check and has no legal escape; that final position is called checkmate.

The board

Each player starts with their main pieces on the row nearest them. Looking from White's side of the board, each back row runs rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight, rook. The eight pawns are placed in the row directly in front. White moves first, and the two sides then alternate one move at a time.

White	Starting squares	Black	Starting squares
King	e1	King	e8
Queen	d1	Queen	d8
Rooks	a1, h1	Rooks	a8, h8
Bishops	c1, f1	Bishops	c8, f8
Knights	b1, g1	Knights	b8, g8
Pawns	a2–h2	Pawns	a7–h7

How the pieces move

A piece normally moves to an empty square. If the destination contains an opponent's piece, that opponent's piece is captured and removed from the board. Except for knights, pieces may not jump over other pieces.

Capturing pieces

Most pieces capture by moving normally onto a square occupied by an opposing piece. The captured piece is removed from the board. Pawns are the exception: they move straight forward, but capture one square diagonally forward.

How to play

1. Set up the board. Place the board with a light square on the right. Put the major pieces on the back rank: rooks in the corners, then knights, bishops, queen, and king. Put all eight pawns in front of them.
2. White moves first. A turn consists of moving one piece legally. Players then alternate turns until the game ends. You cannot pass a turn.
3. Develop your position. Early moves usually bring pawns and minor pieces into play, especially toward the centre squares d4, e4, d5, and e5. A common opening start is 1. e4 e5, where both players move a central pawn two squares.
4. Capture opposing pieces. Captures are optional unless they are the only legal way to answer check. For example, if a bishop on c4 attacks f7 and that square contains a Black pawn, the bishop may capture it by moving from c4 to f7 if the diagonal is clear.
5. Protect your king. If your king is attacked, it is in check. You must respond immediately by moving the king, capturing the attacking piece, or blocking the attack. A move that leaves your own king in check is illegal.
6. Use special moves when legal. Castling moves the king two squares toward a rook and places that rook on the square the king crossed. It is allowed only if neither piece has moved, the path is clear, the king is not in check, and the king does not pass through or land on an attacked square. Pawns may also promote on the final rank, and may capture en passant immediately after an opposing pawn advances two squares past them.
7. Finish the game. The game ends by checkmate, resignation, timeout in timed play, or a draw. Draws can occur by stalemate, agreement, insufficient mating material, threefold repetition, or the fifty-move rule.

Check

A king is in check when an opposing piece attacks it. The checked player must fix that immediately. In this example the bishop attacks the king along a diagonal. The king answers the check by moving out of the bishop's line of sight.

Checkmate and stalemate

Checkmate means the checked player has no legal move that removes the attack. The example below repeats the bishop check from above, but adds a black knight on g3 and a black rook on d8. The bishop attacks the king, the knight covers the king's escape to f1, and the rook covers the escape toward d1. Stalemate is different: the player to move is not in check, but has no legal move. Stalemate is a draw, not a win.

Strategy

• Control the centre. Pieces placed near the centre usually influence more squares and can switch sides of the board more quickly.
• Develop before attacking heavily. Bring knights and bishops into active squares, connect the rooks, and castle the king before committing to a major attack.
• Keep the king safe. Castling early is often sound because it moves the king away from the centre and brings a rook closer to play.
• Look for forcing moves. Checks, captures, and direct threats narrow the opponent's options. Strong combinations often begin with one of these forcing moves.
• Trade with a purpose. Exchanging pieces can simplify a winning position, remove a key defender, or relieve pressure. Avoid trades that improve your opponent's pieces without a reason.

History

Chess developed from earlier Indian and Persian games, most notably chaturanga and shatranj. It spread through the Islamic world and into Europe during the medieval period. The modern movement of the queen and bishop became established in Europe around the late fifteenth century, making the game faster and more tactical than earlier forms.

International tournament chess expanded rapidly in the nineteenth century. The first generally recognised World Chess Champion was Wilhelm Steinitz, who won the 1886 match against Johannes Zukertort. Since then, chess has developed through formal opening theory, endgame study, clock-based competition, and computer analysis. Today the same basic rules support casual games, school clubs, online play, and elite international competition.