♔ Chess
The classic game of strategy
Game Mode
Difficulty
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00:00Time
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Captured by White
Captured by Black
How to Play Chess
Board Setup
Chess is played on an 8×8 board. Each player starts with 16 pieces:
- • 1 King (♔) - the most important piece
- • 1 Queen (♕) - the most powerful piece
- • 2 Rooks (♖) - corner pieces
- • 2 Bishops (♗) - next to knights
- • 2 Knights (♘) - next to rooks
- • 8 Pawns (♙) - front row
Piece Movement
- • King: One square in any direction
- • Queen: Any number of squares in any direction
- • Rook: Any number of squares horizontally or vertically
- • Bishop: Any number of squares diagonally
- • Knight: L-shape: 2 squares + 1 square (can jump)
- • Pawn: Forward 1 (or 2 from start), captures diagonally
Special Moves
Castling: King moves 2 squares toward a rook, rook jumps to the other side. Both pieces must not have moved, and no pieces between them.
En Passant: A pawn can capture an enemy pawn that just moved 2 squares, as if it only moved 1.
Promotion: A pawn reaching the opposite end becomes a Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight.
Check & Checkmate
Check: The King is under attack. You must escape check immediately by moving, blocking, or capturing.
Checkmate: The King is in check and cannot escape. The game is over - you win!
Stalemate: Not in check but no legal moves. The game is a draw.
How to Win
Checkmate your opponent's King! Put their King in a position where it is under attack and cannot escape. You can also win if your opponent resigns or runs out of time (in timed games). A draw can occur through stalemate, insufficient material, threefold repetition, or agreement.
Pro Tips
Castle Early
Castle your King to safety within the first 10 moves. This also activates your Rook.
Control the Center
Place pawns and pieces to control the central squares (d4, d5, e4, e5).
Develop Pieces
Bring out your Knights and Bishops early. Don't move the same piece twice in the opening.