Chess has a reputation for being difficult, but a beginner who learns a few principles and a handful of tactics can play a sound game very quickly. This guide covers the ideas that matter in the first ten moves, the tactical patterns that win material, and a short checklist to prevent the blunders that decide most beginner games. You can practise every idea against the computer or a friend in the Chess game on OnlinePlayZone.
The three opening principles
Every strong opening follows three ideas. They are simple enough to remember and, if you follow them, you do not need to memorise any theory.
- Control the centre. The four squares in the middle of the board give your pieces the most freedom. Move a centre pawn first, either two squares from e2 to e4 or from d2 to d4.
- Develop your pieces. Bring out the knights and bishops early, toward the centre. A piece on its starting square does nothing. Aim to move each minor piece once, to a good square, before moving any piece twice.
- Castle early. Castling tucks the king behind a wall of pawns and brings a rook toward the centre. Do it within the first ten moves.
Mistakes to avoid in the opening
- Do not bring the queen out early. Rival knights and bishops will attack her and you will lose time.
- Do not move the same piece twice without a reason.
- Do not grab pawns at the cost of leaving your development behind.
- Do not move too many pawns. Each pawn move is a move you did not spend developing a piece.
How the pieces move, in one minute
Pawns move forward one square and capture diagonally. Knights jump in an L-shape and are the only piece that can jump over others. Bishops move diagonally any distance, and rooks move along rows and columns. The queen combines rook and bishop. The king moves one square in any direction. Pieces have approximate values that help you decide on trades: pawn 1, knight 3, bishop 3, rook 5, queen 9.
Tactic one: the fork
A fork is a single move that attacks two pieces at once. Knights are especially good at it because their jump attacks squares that other pieces do not expect. If a knight can land on a square that attacks your opponent's king and queen, they must save the king and you take the queen. Before each move, look for forks you can make and forks your opponent is threatening.
Tactic two: the pin
A pin occurs when a piece cannot move because moving it would expose a more valuable piece behind it. A bishop that attacks a knight, with the king behind the knight, pins the knight to the king, which means the knight cannot legally move. Pinned pieces are easy to attack, since they cannot run away.
Tactic three: the skewer
A skewer is the reverse of a pin. You attack a valuable piece and when it moves, you capture the less valuable piece behind it. A rook that attacks a king on the same file, with a queen behind the king, wins the queen once the king steps aside.
Tactic four: the discovered attack
When one piece moves out of the way and reveals an attack by another piece behind it, that is a discovered attack. It is especially strong if the piece that moves also makes a threat of its own, because the opponent now has two problems to solve.
The pre-move checklist
Most games between beginners are decided by a blunder, not by brilliance. A simple checklist before each move dramatically reduces blunders.
- What did my opponent's last move do? What does it attack or threaten?
- Is any of my pieces undefended or attacked?
- What does my candidate move leave unprotected?
- Can my opponent capture something for free after my move?
- Do I have a check, capture or threat that is better?
Practising this sequence slows you down at first, but it soon becomes automatic and it is the single most effective habit for improving at chess.
The endgame basics
In the endgame the king becomes an active piece, so bring it toward the centre. Pawns become the most important pieces because a pawn that reaches the far side of the board promotes into a queen. Learn the idea of the opposition and how a king and pawn can promote against a lone king; these ideas are the foundation of all endgame play.
How to practise
Play short games against the computer and review each loss to find the move where it went wrong. Often it will be one of the blunders in the checklist. Over time your opening habits will settle, tactics will jump out at you, and chess will start to feel less like a puzzle and more like a conversation between pieces.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best first move?
Moving a centre pawn two squares, either the king's pawn or the queen's pawn, is a sound first move. It claims space in the centre and opens lines for the bishops and queen.
Should I move my queen out early?
Generally no. The queen is valuable, and rival pieces can attack her while you spend time moving her around. Develop knights and bishops first.
How do I stop blundering pieces?
Before every move ask what your opponent's last move attacked, and what your move leaves undefended. This simple habit prevents most beginner losses.
