Master the foundation of chess by learning how each piece moves and captures.
The king is the most important piece. It can move exactly one square in any direction - forward, backward, sideways, or diagonally.
The king is the heart of your army. If your king is captured (checkmated), you lose the game!
Movement rule: The king moves exactly one square in any direction.
Study this pattern carefully - the king has 8 possible squares around it (when not blocked).
When the king is in a corner, it has fewer escape squares. This is why corners can be dangerous!
Notice how the king in the corner only has 3 possible moves instead of 8.
This teaches us an important principle: kings are safer in the center of the board than in corners.
Remember this pattern - it will be crucial in endgames!
A king on the edge of the board has limited mobility - another important pattern to remember.
The king on the edge has 5 possible moves - more than a corner, but still limited.
Pattern recognition: Corner = 3 moves, Edge = 5 moves, Center = 8 moves
This is why we say: "A king in the center is a strong king!"
The king cannot move into danger! It cannot move to a square attacked by enemy pieces.
The blue rook controls the entire e-file. The king cannot move to e3 or e5 because that would be moving into check!
Golden rule: The king can never move to a square where it would be captured.
This limits the king's options and is fundamental to understanding check and checkmate.
The rook is a powerful piece that moves in perfectly straight lines - horizontally and vertically, as far as it wants.
The rook is one of the most powerful pieces on the board!
Movement rule: The rook moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically.
Count the squares: this rook can reach 14 different squares from e4!
Think of the rook as drawing a perfect cross (+) on the board.
Rooks cannot jump over pieces. Other pieces block their path, just like a wall blocks your walking path.
Important rule: Rooks cannot jump over any pieces - friendly or enemy!
The white pawn at e6 blocks the rook from moving to e7 or e8.
The black knight at c4 blocks the rook from moving to a4 or b4.
But notice: the rook can capture the enemy knight by moving to c4!
The rook captures by moving to the square occupied by an enemy piece. The enemy piece is removed from the board.
Capturing rule: The rook captures by moving to the enemy piece's square.
This rook can capture the black bishop on e7 or the black rook on h4.
Important: You cannot capture your own pieces! The white pawn at e2 is safe.
When you capture, the enemy piece is removed from the board forever.
A rook's power depends on its position. Count how many squares it controls from different positions.
Even in the corner, this rook still controls 14 squares!
Rook principle: A rook's power stays the same regardless of position (when unblocked).
This is different from the king - remember how the king was weaker in corners?
Rooks are consistently powerful pieces everywhere on the board!
The bishop moves in perfectly diagonal lines, as far as it wants. Think of it as drawing an X on the board.
The bishop is a long-range piece that moves diagonally!
Movement rule: The bishop moves any number of squares diagonally.
From e4, this bishop can reach 13 different squares.
Think of the bishop as drawing a perfect X on the board.
This is the most important thing to understand about bishops: they can only move on squares of one color!
Critical concept: This bishop started on a light square (e4) and can only ever move to light squares!
Look carefully - every square the bishop can reach is the same color as where it started.
Each player starts with two bishops: one for light squares, one for dark squares.
A bishop can never change the color of squares it travels on!
Like rooks, bishops cannot jump over pieces. Any piece in the diagonal path blocks the bishop.
Blocking rule: Bishops cannot jump over any pieces!
The friendly pawn at f5 blocks movement up-right completely.
The enemy knight at c6 blocks the path to b7 and a8.
But the bishop can capture the enemy queen at d3!
Unlike rooks, bishops become much weaker near the edges and corners of the board.
From the corner, this bishop only controls 7 squares - much less than from the center!
Bishop principle: Bishops are strongest in the center, weakest in corners.
Compare this to the rook - remember how the rook was equally strong everywhere?
Keep your bishops active and centralized whenever possible!
The queen combines the power of both rook and bishop. She moves in straight lines AND diagonally!
The queen is the most powerful piece on the chessboard!
Movement rule: Queen = Rook + Bishop movements combined.
From e4, this queen can reach an amazing 27 different squares!
The queen moves like a rook OR like a bishop - in any direction, any distance.
Let's compare: one queen versus a rook and bishop working together. See the difference in coverage!
Amazing fact: This single queen controls 27 squares!
The black rook on a8 controls 14 squares + the black bishop on h1 controls 7 squares = 21 total.
So one queen is more powerful than a rook and bishop combined!
Remember: With great power comes great responsibility - don't lose your queen!
Despite her power, the queen follows the same blocking rules as rooks and bishops.
Important: Even the mighty queen cannot jump over pieces!
The friendly pawn blocks vertical movement up the e-file.
The enemy rook at c4 can be captured, but blocks further movement.
The enemy knight at f5 can be captured and blocks the up-right diagonal.
Because the queen is so valuable, she must be kept safe. Losing your queen usually means losing the game!
Danger! This queen is under attack by three enemy pieces!
The queen is worth about 9 points - more than a rook (5) + bishop (3) + knight (3)!
Golden rule: Always keep your queen safe. Don't bring her out too early.
"Don't bring your queen out early" - one of the most important opening principles!
The knight is the most unique piece - it moves in an L-shape: 2 squares in one direction, then 1 square perpendicular.
The knight is the most unusual piece on the board!
Movement rule: The knight moves in an L-shape - exactly 2 squares in one direction, then 1 square at a right angle.
From e4, this knight has 8 possible moves. Each move forms a perfect L!
Think: "2 squares + 1 square at a right angle = L-shape"
Let's trace one knight move step by step to understand the L-shape clearly.
Step-by-step L-shape: From e4 to f6
1. Move 2 squares up: e4 → e5 → e6
2. Then 1 square right: e6 → f6
This creates the L-shape! The knight could also go 2 right, then 1 up for the same destination.
The L can be oriented 8 different ways from any square.
This is the knight's superpower - it's the ONLY piece that can jump over other pieces!
Amazing! Even completely surrounded, the knight can still make all 8 moves!
Jumping rule: Knights ignore all pieces in their path - they simply jump over them.
No other piece can do this! Rooks, bishops, and queens all get blocked by pieces.
This makes knights excellent for breaking through crowded positions!
Unlike rooks, knights are much weaker near the edges and corners of the board.
From the corner, this knight only has 2 possible moves!
Compare this to the center where a knight has 8 moves.
Knight principle: "A knight on the rim is dim" - keep knights centralized!
Knights are strongest in the center, weakest on the edges and corners.
Knights on the edge are better than in corners, but still not ideal.
From the edge, this knight has 4 possible moves.
Pattern: Corner = 2 moves, Edge = 3-4 moves, Center = 8 moves
This is why we say: "Centralize your knights!"
Remember: Corner rooks had 14 moves, but corner knights only have 2!
Knights capture just like they move - by jumping to the enemy piece's square in an L-shape.
Capturing: The knight can capture the black bishop on f6 or the black rook on c5.
Knights capture exactly like they move - by jumping in an L-shape to the enemy piece.
The white pawn on d2 is safe because it's your own piece.
Knights can capture any enemy piece they can legally move to!
Pawns are unique - they move differently than they capture! This is the only piece with this special rule.
The pawn has the most unique movement rules!
Movement rule: Pawns move straight forward one square.
Capture rule: Pawns capture diagonally forward (one square diagonally).
This is the only piece where moving and capturing are different!
When a pawn hasn't moved yet, it has a special option to move two squares forward on its first move.
Special rule: On its very first move, a pawn can choose to move 1 or 2 squares forward!
This pawn on e2 can move to e3 (normal) or jump to e4 (first move special).
After the first move, pawns can only move one square at a time.
This two-square option helps develop your position faster in the opening!
Unlike knights, pawns cannot jump. If there's a piece directly in front, the pawn is completely stuck!
Blocked! This pawn cannot move forward because the black knight blocks its path.
Pawns cannot jump over pieces, even enemy pieces directly in front of them.
But notice: the pawn can still capture diagonally if there were enemy pieces on d5 or f5!
Pawn blockades are a powerful defensive technique!
Pawns capture diagonally forward - this is completely different from how they move!
Pawn captures: This pawn can capture the bishop on d5 or the rook on f5.
But it cannot capture the knight on e5 because that's directly in front!
Remember: Pawns move forward, but capture diagonally forward.
This unique rule makes pawn structure very important in chess strategy!
When a pawn reaches the opposite end of the board, it transforms into any piece you choose (except a king)!
Amazing rule: When this pawn moves to e8, it must transform into a new piece!
You can choose: Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight. Most players choose a Queen!
This means you can have multiple queens on the board at the same time!
Strategic goal: Getting a pawn to the opposite end is often a winning advantage!
How your pawns are arranged is crucial. Good pawn structure supports your pieces; bad structure creates weaknesses.
Pawn chain: The pawns on d4 and e4 support each other - this is very strong!
Each pawn protects the other diagonally, creating a solid foundation.
Principle: Connected pawns are stronger than isolated pawns.
Good pawn structure is the foundation of all chess strategy!
Before moving to Lesson 2: