Chess for Beginners

Congratulations on making your first tentative steps toward learning the rules of chess. Many contemplate whether to learn chess at some point in their life only to give up due to the vast amount of complex and confusing information available.

We aim to rectify this by dividing the rules of chess into easy to read and easy to understand lessons designed specifically for the absolute beginner chess player. Complex terms and methods are introduced only when necessary and where appropriate additional information has been given in the form of downloadable articles and videos.

To ease the learning process further, each page of lessons introduce slightly more advanced concepts. We begin with piece recognition and end with basic strategy. With this approach it is hoped that chess for beginners is greatly simplified. If you are looking for beginners chess strategy follow this link to jump straight to our beginner chess strategy section. If not, please continue with our first lessons below.

A new addition to the website is a free online chess game where a player can test their new skills against the computer. Click on the Play Chess link at the top of each page to access the game. To assist in learning chess, players are advised to use the chess game to verify piece movement and become familiar with the general properties of chess.

Finally, we have included a forum where everyone is encouraged to ask questions, leave comments or generally chat amongst yourselves. Registration is optional as anonymous posts are allowed. Registered users have the ability to create an online profile and monitor their posts. The forum is for beginner chess players, and as such there will be no such thing as a stupid question. Please be confident that all questions will be answered thoroughly by one of our moderators.

A Chess Myth or Two

Let’s start off by exposing a few myths that often stop beginner chess players from picking up their first pawn:

• Chess can only be played by tea-touting, IQ celebrating, super brains.
  Chess only has a few basic rules and beginners generally find it easy to learn. Chess is however hard to champion as mastering strategy is often a life long endeavour. In later lessons we introduce basic beginner chess strategy, so don’t worry too much at this point.
• Chess is soooo boring…
  Actually, a great game of chess is both extremely exciting and nerve wracking. Beginners with a heart condition have been warned.
• A single chess game is so long that play is normally passed down from generation to generation.
  A chess game is as long as you want it to be. You can impose time limits or resign at any point. Most beginners chess games will last no longer than half an hour.

It’s A Beginners Chess Game

Beginners should try to find another beginner chess player to learn chess with. Once the rules are learned, and some basic strategy imprinted, mano-a-mano of the beginner kind is much more fun than taking on a chess champion.

Those new to the game of chess are recommended to start with a real chess board. Chess computers don’t really care that your are a beginner, and many people who join online chess sites do so to flex their muscles. Sorry to do this, but it pays for the site… We have chosen to affiliate our site with Chess House as they supply quality chess related products at cheap prices. Delivery within the USA is free with most orders. Check out their online shop by clicking on the pictures below.

Click below for quality chess boards and chess related products…

16in Olympic Wooden Chess Set	The Lord of the Rings Chess Set Pieces – Hand Painted

And What Do The Chess Pieces Do?

Chess for beginners is made easy as there are only six different types of chess pieces. Those wishing to learn chess should make an effort to memorize the name of each piece. They are listed below in no significant order:

	The King rules the land. When cornered, he will surrender quicker than a mouse in a cheese factory. At all costs, the beginner must protect the King.
	The Queen has the real power, the King just thinks he does. Unfortunately, the Queen is often required to lay down her life. Beginners beware… you will end up loving your Queen, and despising her opposite.
	Initially, the Bishops flank the King and Queen. You never know when you many need religious guidance, especially in the heat of battle.
	The Knight, often called the ‘Horsey’ by the beginner, is the Kings cavalry. Being on horseback it is not always easy to move in a straight line, as a result the Knight moves like a madman.
	Rooks can be both a King’s best defense, or his greatest offense. These are often called ‘Castles’ by the beginner chess player.
	The lowly Pawns provide the King’s real power. What they lack in maneuverability, they gain in number.

So What’s the Aim of Chess Anyway?

The aim of chess is to force the King to surrender. This is often achieved through diligent use of strategy. Beginner beware… the aim is not to kill as many of your opponent’s pieces as possible.

Every move, every piece taken, every trap set, every piece lost should be part of an overall strategy. In a good game of chess, moving without purpose is often cruelly punished. We’ll introduce you to beginners basic strategy a little further on.

All I Want to Do is Play a Game of Chess

A game of chess always begins with the board set in a particular way. Configure the board as depicted below. Beginners should note that both Kings and Queens face each other, and both Queens are located on their own color.

You must now chose a color. Flip a coin, or place one pawn of each color into a clenched fist behind your back and ask your opponent to choose a hand. White will always move first. There’s an article on “first move advantage” in the articles section.

Supplementary Chess Material

Well done! You’ve made it to the bottom of the first page. There’s just three more to go, and believe it or not they are just as easy as this one!

Click the page numbers below to continue to the next lesson.