You’re looking for a fun new hobby, and you’ve come across the game of chess?
As someone who has never played before, how do you get started? Read on to find out how to learn chess?
I will share my tips, & strategies to help you learn chess faster like a Pro step-by-step. It’s never too late to learn a new skill – especially if it’s this exciting!
Well, let’s learn all the techniques to learn chess smartly as a beginner…
Read On!
How to Learn Chess? (A Beginners Guide)
A common way to learn how to play chess is by watching other people.
It’s a good idea for beginners to watch and interact with games played by more experienced players, even on television coverage. Watching others can offer plenty of useful tips on gameplay strategies that will help you improve your own skills at the game!
Join our free Chess Course: Introduction to Chess – The Game Of Life
However, it is also important for beginners to interact directly with the game. Playing against an actual opponent in person can be very helpful, as you will have a chance to practice your skills and learn from your mistakes.
As We All Know, Regular Practice makes us perfect!
Well, let’s see how you can get started with chess as a novice…
Learn Chess From Scratch (Step-By-Step)
Step 1. How to Setup the Chessboard
This is where the game begins…
Before you play, it’s important that you know how to set up your chessboard and pieces correctly. Ready? Let’s get started:
In the beginning, the chessboard is laid out so that each player has the white (or light) squares in the most-right corners!
The second row of the chessboard is filled with pawns. The rooks go in all four corners, followed by the knights next to them, then bishops, and finally queen and king on the remaining squares
Step 2. How the Chess Pieces Move
Now that your chessboard is set up, let’s talk about how each piece moves?
On a turn, players can either move one of their pieces or capture an opponent’s piece (by removing it off the board) with another one of their own pieces on its next turn.
A player may only make one move per turn.
How To Move the King?
The king in chess is the most important piece. It can only move one square at a time. The king can go up, down, left and right, or diagonally.
However, if the player’s piece finds itself in check (meaning they are threatened by another player’s move), it must immediately get out of the attack. If this proves impossible, then you have lost the game, i.e. checkmate!
How to Move the Queen in Chess
In the game of chess, Queen is the most powerful piece with 9 points.
She can move in any direction – forward, backward, sideways, or diagonally as far as possible as long as she does not move through her own pieces.
And, like with all pieces on a chessboard, if the queen captures an opponent’s piece, her move is over.
How to Move the Rook in Chess
Rooks are basically the chess equivalent of a castle on wheels. They can move any number of squares: forward, backward and sideways as well (just not diagonally)
How to Move the Bishop in Chess
Bishop can move as far as it wants but only diagonally but not past their own or other pieces.
Each bishop starts at one color (white or dark) and must stay on that color. Bishops especially work well together because they cover up each other’s weaknesses.
How to Move the Knight in Chess
Knights are the only pieces in chess that can jump over another piece.
A knight can move 2 squares in one direction and then make a move at an angle of 90 degrees. Just like L shape move.
How to Move the Pawn in Chess
Pawns are the weakest and slowest pieces on a chessboard.
They start out at the back of each player’s side of the gameboard, making their way down one row after another as they move forward.
Pawns can only capture one square diagonally in front of them. They can never move or capture backward. If there is another piece directly in front of a pawn he cannot move past or capture that piece.
Step 3. Discover the Special Rules of Chess
Chess is not an ordinary game…
Chess Pieces have amazing superpowers to blow you away- find out how they make the game more fun and challenging.
Pawn Promotion
Do you know, Pawns have a special ability?
It’s called Pawn Promotion.
If they reach the other side of the board, they can become any other chess piece (called promotion) except for a king.
En-Passant
Except for Pawn Promotion, Pawns have one more super-power: En-passant!
“En-Passant” means “in passing”.
When a pawn moves 2 squares forward, if it lands to the side of your pawn (jumping over your pawn), then you can capture the opponent’s pawn by placing your pawn diagonally in the direction that the opponent’s move was.
Note: This special move must be done immediately after the first pawn has moved past, otherwise the option to capture it is no longer available.
Castling
Another Crucial Chess Rule is Castling,
This move allows you to do two important things all in one move:
1)get your king to safety (hopefully), and
2)get your rook out of the corner, into the game.
However, in order to castle, certain conditions must be met;
- It is the King’s first move
- It is the Rook’s very first move as well
- No pieces between the king and rook
- The king is not on check
- None of the opponent’s pieces is covering/attacking the two squares of king move.
Step 4. Who Makes the First Move in Chess
The player with the white pieces (or light square) at the bottom right-hand side of the chessboard makes his first move. The black squares, on which your opponent’s rooks and pawns are situated, are called “the dark” or “the enemy.”
There is always an opportunity/clear advantage for the first mover, they can attack the opponent right away.
Basic Chess Strategies for Beginners
The following are some of the key aspects that beginners should keep in mind while playing chess:
1. OPEN WITH A PAWN
Pawns make up the bulk of most armies, and they are often sacrificed in order to open a path for the other pieces.
Move the pawn in front of either the king or queen two squares forward. (Only on its opening move can a pawn move two squares.)
This opens pathways for your bishops and queen to enter the game. They move at an angle, so they need space between other pieces in order to maneuver into new positions.
2. ATTACK IN THE “MIDDLEGAME”
After the opening moves, the game enters into a middlegame. A player in this phase of the game should be capturing their opponent’s pieces whenever possible take any piece that your opponent doesn’t protect.
But look at what will happen to your piece if you take him — will you get picked off? Always be looking for ways to move lots of your men into position to attack the enemy king.
3. CASTLE EARLY
Castling is a move where the king and rook move together.
It’s great because it helps protect your king, gives you more attack options with other pieces, and also takes away some of your opponent’s space to play their own chess.
4. DON’T WASTE YOUR MOVES
Use your moves wisely… or you’ll regret them later!
Don’t move your pawns too much. If you take an opponent’s pawn, it will just get replaced with one of their other pawns.
Every move is important & can change the game completely, move wisely!
5. DON’T PLAY TOO FAST
I don’t know why, but I have seen all beginners have a habit to play very fast.
Don’t be in a hurry, think it through… Nobody is going anywhere.
If you see a good move, find a better one. Wait and think about it. That will help you win at chess.
Above are some of the basic strategies you can follow to stay above your opponent.
If you really want to learn chess then you need to follow & understand the above basic strategies. Practice them regularly to become a strong chess player.
So, what are you waiting for?
Start learning chess & I will be waiting to play chess with you, join me on our official chess app!