How to play Chess
Here’s how to play Chess, the classic game of strategy, in plain English. Each side has sixteen pieces and one aim: trap the enemy king so it can’t escape, which is called checkmate. Learn how the pieces move and you can play free online, right in your browser.
This guide covers the moves, castling, en passant, promotion and the different ways a game can end in a draw, plus a few tips. Then try it against ten computer opponents, from beginner to Pete, or challenge a friend.
The basics
Two armies of sixteen: a king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights and eight pawns. White moves first, then you take turns. You can’t pass. Against the computer you swap colours every game, and your pieces are always at the bottom.
The goal
- Checkmate the enemy king: attack it (that’s check) so that it has no way to escape. That wins the game.
- You may never make a move that leaves your own king in check. If you’re in check, you must deal with it — move the king, block, or capture the attacker.
How the pieces move
- ♔King — one square in any direction.
- ♕Queen — any distance in a straight line: along ranks, files or diagonals.
- ♖Rook — any distance along a rank or file.
- ♗Bishop — any distance diagonally (so it stays on one colour).
- ♘Knight — an “L”: two squares one way and one to the side. It’s the only piece that jumps over others.
- ♙Pawn — one square forwards (two on its very first move). It captures one square diagonally forwards.
- Pieces can’t move through other pieces (except the knight). You capture by moving onto an enemy piece’s square.
Special moves
- Castling — the king moves two squares towards a rook, and the rook jumps over to the other side of it. Only if neither has moved yet, the squares between are empty, and the king isn’t in check, doesn’t pass through check and doesn’t land in check. Tap the king, then the square two to the side.
- En passant — if an enemy pawn moves two squares and lands right beside your pawn, you may capture it as if it had moved one — but only on your very next move.
- Promotion — a pawn that reaches the far side becomes a queen, rook, bishop or knight (your choice).
Draws
- Stalemate: the player to move has no legal move but isn’t in check.
- The same position three times, 50 moves each without a capture or pawn move, or not enough pieces left for anyone to checkmate.
- You can offer a draw — the computer only agrees if it thinks it’s losing or the game is dead level.
Controls
- Tap a piece to see where it can go (dots; rings mean a capture), then tap a square — or drag it there.
- Hint works against Levels 1–2.
- Tap the opponent’s name at the top to choose from ten opponents — up to Pete, the toughest of them all.
- Keyboard: Tab to the board, arrow keys to move around, Enter to pick up and put down, Esc to let go. N new game, H hint, M move list.
Beginner tips
- Bring your knights and bishops out early and castle to tuck your king away safely, rather than pushing lots of pawns or sending the queen out too soon.
- Fight for the centre of the board; pieces there have more room to move. Before every move, check what your opponent’s last move is threatening.
- Don’t give pieces away for nothing: a queen is worth far more than a pawn. Before you capture, check whether your piece can be taken back, and use the Hint button against the first two levels to spot missed chances.
Frequently asked questions
Who moves first in Chess?
White moves first, then you take turns; you can’t pass. Against the computer you swap colours every game, and your pieces are always at the bottom of the screen.
How do you win at Chess?
You win by checkmate: attack the enemy king (that’s check) so it has no way to escape. You can never make a move that leaves your own king in check.
What is stalemate in Chess?
Stalemate is when the player to move has no legal move but isn’t in check, and it is a draw. A game is also drawn by the same position three times, 50 moves each without a capture or pawn move, or not enough pieces left to checkmate.
What are castling and en passant?
Castling moves the king two squares towards a rook and the rook jumps over to the other side, as long as neither has moved and the king isn’t in check on the way. En passant lets you capture a pawn that has just moved two squares and landed beside yours, but only on your very next move.
Is it free to play Chess against the computer?
Yes. Chess is free to play in your browser, with nothing to download. Guests can play the first computer opponent, Trevor, and a free account unlocks the rest of the ten-level ladder up to Pete. You can also play a friend online.
Can I review my Chess game?
Yes, and it’s free. Every move you make is rated as you play (brilliant, inaccuracy, mistake or blunder), and after the game you can tap Review for an accuracy score, the key moments, a graph of who was winning and the best move in each position. It works against the computer and in friend and online games.
Ready to play Chess?
It’s free and works in your browser — no download. Start against Trevor, the friendliest opponent, and sign up free to climb the ladder of ten computer players all the way to Pete.
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