

When a pawn reaches the eighth rank (for White) or first rank (for Black) they are "promoted" into another piece (see below). The pawn is the only piece that cannot move backwards and is also the only piece that captures in a way that is different from how it normally moves. Pawns capture pieces situated one space diagonally in front. Pawns cannot move forward if they are blocked by an enemy piece nor can they capture pieces directly ahead of them.

On its initial move, it can move forward one or two vacant spaces, but it is only allowed to move forward one vacant space afterwards.

The pawn: The most basic piece in the game (you have 8 of them).Here are the names of every piece and how they move (with a few exceptions, that will be covered in a bit): When you redefine chess success as thinking, instead of just winning, it’s an important step toward fair play.Learn how the pieces move. Praise children for taking an appropriate amount of time on each move. Many online sites will measure that time. To encourage fair play, call to mind the old expression: “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” For example, rather than defining success as whether a child won or lost, look at the time spent on each move of the game. Players’ accounts are routinely penalized rating points or even banned if cheating is detected. Many chess-playing websites have robust cheating-detection mechanisms. If a chess player cheats online, there are often consequences. Players cheat in online tournaments even when there is no prize money at stake, usually to try to raise their ratings. In chess, success is often defined as winning a game, winning a tournament, or gaining points for your chess rating, which is how chess players measure their skill level compared to others. Get a problem wrong, and your next problem will be easier.

Get a tactics problem right, and the site gives you a harder one to solve. Most chess websites offer tactics problems that are tailored to your level. Openings are probably the hardest thing for beginners to study online, since there are many initial moves that fit opening principles.īeginners should also practice tactics, which are moves that result in immediate, tangible gains. That two-part maneuver makes the king more secure and the rook more active. Castling is where a king moves two squares toward a rook, and that rook then hops over the king, landing near the middle of the board. They include controlling the center of the board, “developing” your knights and bishops – that is, getting them into play – and castling. Opening principles should guide your first 10 moves.
#Play chess online beginner how to
Study the basicsįor beginners, I would recommend studying three things: basic endgame checkmates, opening principles and tactics.Įvery player should know how to win when it’s a king and queen against a queen. There is no substitute for parental supervision. Nonetheless, unsupervised children may figure out how to circumvent those features. Some chess websites offer child-safety features, such as disabling all chats. Parents should block their children from sharing personal messages and photos with online chess opponents. Keep interactions online rather than agreeing to meet in person.Īdditionally, children who play or learn chess online should be supervised by parents. Hide personal information, such as where you live, where you work or where you go to school. Therefore, some common online safety advice applies to chess players of all ages: Use a fake username rather than your real name. Put safety firstĭoing things online comes with safety concerns. Women’s Chess Champion who teaches online courses about chess in education, offers tips for parents and caregivers of children who are interested in playing chess online. Editor’s note: The school closures forced by COVID-19 have parents and students searching for ways to make the best of their time indoors.
