Explainer: The rules of classical chess
Chess, as the game we know today, evolved in the 15th century in Europe. The basic rules of chess are known to most. A chessboard consists of 64 squares, with opponents playing with black or white. The objective is to checkmate the opponent's king, that is, to trap the piece in a way that it can't escape. Here we explain other rules of chess.
How to read the chessboard?
The 64 squares of a chessboard have been named for the convenience of recording the moves. The horizontal squares are named from a to h from the left while the vertical side is named from 1 to 8. Each square gets its name by combining horizontal and vertical names. This is the algebraic notation and is the official system.
How to read chess moves?
Each chess piece has a name, basically its initial letter. King-K, Queen-Q, Bishop-B, and Knight-N, since K is already used for the king. Pawns are denoted by an absence of a letter. Now, if a knight is moving to the square f3, the move is noted as Nf3. A pawn to square b4 would simply be written as b4.
Algebraic notations for specific moves
A move which places the opponent's king in check is denoted by a '+' after it. If a move results in checkmate, it is denoted by a '++'. To denote a capture, a move is denoted by the letter of the piece, followed by an x, and then coordinates of the destination square. White's win is denoted by 1-0 and Black's by 0-1.
Some important chess terms one should know
Castling- this move allows a player to safe keep their kings. It is done by moving the king two squares along the first rank towards a rook, and then placing the rook on the last square the king has just crossed. Promotion- when a pawn advances to the 8th rank, it can be exchanged for any other piece of the same color.
How is a chess match won?
Check- the opponent's king is captured without any legal move for it to make. Resignation- either player may resign when he sees himself in a truly hopeless position. Win on time- In games with a time control, a player wins simply if the opponent runs out of time. Forfeit- any gross misconduct, even arriving late or receiving a call can result in forfeiture.
