Chess Basics

Chess BasicsSpecial Moves ReviewCheckmate ExamplesStalematePiece Values

Special Moves’ Review

Pawns have a specialmove calleden passant.If the pawn on itshome moves twosquares, the pawnon the 5th rank cantake it as if it onlymoved 1 square.If the pawn on c7moves to c5 or thepawn on e7 movesto e5, then the pawnon d5 can take it.You can only use enpassant on the nextmove.En Passant

So say the pawn onf2 moves to f4.Pawn Movement

So say the pawn onf2 moves to f4.Pawn Movement

The black pawn onf4 (its 5th rank)captures it bymoving to f3.Pawn Movement

The black pawn onf4 (its 5th rank)captures it bymoving to f3.Pawn Movement

The black pawn onf4 (its 5th rank)captures it bymoving to f3.Pawn Movement

The black pawn onf4 (its 5th rank)captures it bymoving to f3.A pawn can onlycapture anotherpawn this wayA pawn must be onits 5th rankThe other pawnmust make a 2square movePawn Movement

A special move forthe king and one rookthat lets the kingmove to a saferlocation.The king moves twosquares to one side,and the rook movesto the other side ofthe king.It’s legal to castlewhen:- the king and rookhaven’t moved yet- the king is notunder attack- the king can’t gopast a square that’sunder attack.Castling

When a pawnreaches the otherend of the board, itcan become a:- knight- bishop- rook- queenof the same color.You can have morepieces than youstart the game with.Pawn Promotion

The Most Special MoveCheckmate

CheckmateTo win a regular chess game, you have tocheckmate the other king.Check is when one of your pieces isattacking the other king.Checkmate is when you attack the otherking, and it can’t escape.When your king is under attack, you can:move the king;take the piece that’s attacking it; or,block the piece that’s attacking it.If you can’t do any of these, you lose.

Checkmate Examples

1. f4Fool’s Mate

1. f4e5Fool’s Mate

1. f4e52. g4Fool’s Mate

1. f4e52. g4Qh4#The queen isattacking the king.No one can capturethe black queen.The king can’t moveto f2 because itwould still be underattack.No other piece canmove to f2 or g3 toblock the queen.Fool’s Mate

1. e4Scholar’s Mate

1. e4e5Scholar’s Mate

1. e4e52. Qh5Scholar’s Mate

1. e4e52. Qh5d6Scholar’s Mate

1. e4e52. Qh5d63. Bc4Scholar’s Mate

1. e4e52. Qh5d63. Bc4Nf6Scholar’s Mate

1. e4e52. Qh5d63. Bc4Nf64. Qf7#The queen’s attackingthe king.The king can’t takethe queen; the bishopguards it.The king can’t moveto d7 or e7.No piece can blockthe queen.Scholar’s Mate

1. e4Stopping Scholar’s Mate

1. e4e5Stopping Scholar’s Mate

1. e4e52. Qh5The queen attacks thepawn on e5, the pawnon f7, and the pawnon h7.The only threat is theattack against e5. IfWhite takes either ofthe other pawn, heloses his queen. Sothose aren’t realthreats.Stopping Scholar’s Mate

1. e4e52. Qh5Nc6The knight guards thepawn.Stopping Scholar’s Mate

1. e4e52. Qh5Nc63. Bc4The queen andbishop attack f7. Thisis a threat. If Whitetakes the pawn on f7with the queen, hewins.Stopping Scholar’s Mate

1. e4e52. Qh5Nc63. Bc4g6Black blocks thethreat against f7.White’s bishop stillattacks it, but Blackwould get the bishopfor a pawn.Now Black has athreat to take thequeen.Stopping Scholar’s Mate

1. e4e52. Qh5Nc63. Bc4g64. Qf3White protects thequeen by moving it.White also renewshis threat against f7.Stopping Scholar’s Mate

1. e42. Qh53. Bc44. Qf3e5Nc6g6Nf6Black blocks thethreat. Black’s queenprotects his knight.Black also getsanother piece out. Atthe start, it’s really arace to get the mostpieces out.Stopping Scholar’s Mate

Stalemate

A stalemate is a tie.Stalemate is whenit’s someone’s turnbut there are nolegal moves.In this example, it’sBlack’s turn. Hisking isn’t attacked,so he’s not incheck. But the kingcan’t move to a safesquare.No one wins astalemate (a draw).Stalemate

Piece Values

Piece Value

Piece ValueYou can tell that a queen is more powerfulthan a pawn.You wouldn’t give away your queen just toget a pawn.

Piece ValueYou can tell that a queen is more powerfulthan a pawn.You wouldn’t give away your queen just toget a pawn.What about a knight for two pawns?

Piece ValueYou can tell that a queen is more powerfulthan a pawn.You wouldn’t give away your queen just toget a pawn.What about a knight for two pawns?What about a knight for three pawns?

Piece ValueYou can tell that a queen is more powerfulthan a pawn.You wouldn’t give away your queen just toget a pawn.What about a knight for two pawns?What about a knight for three pawns?What about a queen for a knight, a bishop,and a rook?

Piece ValueTo help us make those decisions, this tableassigns a value to each piece.Knight - 3¼ pawnsBishop - 3¼ pawnsRook - 5 pawnsQueen - 9¾ pawns

Good Trade or Bad Trade?Take a pawn but lose a knight?

Good Trade or Bad Trade?Take a pawn but lose a knight?Bad trade

Good Trade or Bad Trade?Take a bishop but lose a knight?

Good Trade or Bad Trade?Take a bishop but lose a knight?Even trade

Good Trade or Bad Trade?Take a queen but lose a tworooks?

Good Trade or Bad Trade?Take a queen but lose a tworooks?Bad trade

Good Trade or Bad Trade?Take a rook and pawn but lose aknight and bishop

Good Trade or Bad Trade?Take a rook and pawn but lose aknight and bishopBad trade

White moves first.You win if you checkmate youropponent.After your game, write the firstand last name of each player ona Results sheet. Circle the nameof the winner. Circle both namesif it’s a draw.Shake hands and tell youropponent “good game.”Trade sides and play again.Play a chess game

- knight - bishop - rook - queen of the same color. You can have more pieces than you start the game with. Checkmate The Most Special Move. Checkmate To win a regular chess game, you have to checkmate the other king. Check is when one of your pieces is attacking the other king. Checkmate is when you attack the other