How do the Pieces Move?

Each of the 6 different kinds of pieces moves differently. Pieces cannot move through other pieces (though the knight can jump over other pi...

What is Promotion?

Pawns have another special ability and that is that if a pawn reaches the other side of the board it can become any other chess piece (calle...

What is En Passant?

The last rule about pawns is called “en passant,” which is French for “in passing”. If a pawn moves out two squares on its first move, and b...

What is Castling?

One other special rule is called castling. This move allows you to do two important things all in one move: get your king to safety (hopeful...

What is Check & Checkmate?

The purpose of the game is to checkmate the opponent’s king. This happens when the king is put into check and cannot get out of check. There...

What is a Draw?

Occasionally chess games do not end with a winner, but with a draw. There are 5 reasons why a chess game may end in a draw:   T...