Ideas, Openings & Improvement

What separates a CM from a GM? It is more than just rating. Here is what each title actually means in practice.

The !, ?, and !! symbols in chess notation evaluate move quality. Here is what every symbol means.

"Light on right" is the golden rule of chessboard setup. Here is why it matters.

When neither player has enough pieces to checkmate, the game is drawn. Here are all the combinations.

Touch a piece, move it. Touch an opponent's piece, capture it. Here is the full rule and its online equivalent.

Chess has six different ways to draw. Here is each one explained clearly.

Fool's Mate ends the game in 2 moves. It is the shortest possible chess game.

When your king is attacked, you are in check. You have exactly three options to escape. Here is the complete guide.

Setting up a chessboard is simple once you know the rules. Here is the correct placement for every piece.

The Elo rating system is the backbone of competitive chess. Here is how it actually calculates your rating.

You can learn the rules in 30 minutes. Getting good takes longer. Here are realistic timelines for every level.

Chess was invented in India around the 6th century AD. Here is the complete journey from chaturanga to modern chess.