How to play your first chess game

Your first game does not need to be perfect. Here is the shortest path to playing.

Set up the board

White pieces on rows 1 and 2, black pieces on rows 7 and 8. Rooks in the corners, then knights, bishops, queen on her color, and the king in the last square.

How pieces move

• Pawns move forward one square (two on the first move) and capture diagonally.
• Rooks slide along ranks and files.
• Bishops slide along diagonals.
• Knights jump in an L shape — the only piece that can leap.
• The queen moves like a rook and bishop combined.
• The king moves one square in any direction.

Win the game

Checkmate the king — attack it with no way to escape. Or simply play and learn; every game teaches you something.

Strategy 4 Kids pairs you with a friendly robot and explains each step as you go.