The Rules of Chess

Chess is played by two players on an 8×8 board, set up with a light square in each player's near-right corner. White moves first; players then alternate, and a move is compulsory each turn. The objective is to checkmate the opponent's king. See how to play chess for the full starting setup.

Each piece moves in its own pattern — detailed on how the pieces move. You capture by moving onto an occupied square, removing the enemy piece. Except for the knight, no piece may jump over another, and you can never capture your own pieces or the king.

In formal play the touch-move rule applies: if you deliberately touch one of your pieces you must move it (if it has a legal move), and if you touch an enemy piece you must capture it if you legally can. To adjust a piece without committing to move it, announce "I adjust" (j'adoube) first.

Three moves break the usual patterns — castling, en passant and promotion. Each has strict conditions covered on that page.

A king under attack is in check and must be made safe immediately; you may never leave your own king in check. The game is won by checkmate and drawn by stalemate, agreement, threefold repetition, the 50-move rule or insufficient material — explained on check, checkmate & stalemate.

Many games use a chess clock that limits each player's total thinking time. If your time runs out you lose — unless your opponent has no way to checkmate, in which case it is a draw. Time controls range from slow "classical" games to fast "blitz" and "bullet".

Moves are recorded in algebraic notation: files are lettered a–h, ranks numbered 1–8, so each square has a name like e4. A move names the piece and destination, e.g. Nf3 (knight to f3) or e4 (pawn to e4). This lets any game be written down and replayed.

Basic etiquette: shake hands before and after, do not distract your opponent, and resign graciously when lost. Online, the same spirit applies — play fair and do not use outside help.