Chess Pieces & Their Moves
One square any direction. Must never enter check.
Any number of squares diagonally, horizontally, or vertically.
Any number of squares horizontally or vertically.
Any number of squares diagonally.
L-shape: two squares + one perpendicular. Can jump over pieces.
Forward one square (or two from start). Captures diagonally.
Choose Your Challenge
Stockfish thinks for 0.2 seconds. Great for beginners learning piece movement.
1 second of calculation. Stockfish plays solid, principled chess.
3 seconds deep search. Expect strong tactical play and sharp punishments.
Rules of Chess
Checkmate the opponent's king — place it under attack with no legal escape.
When the king is under direct attack, the player must immediately resolve the threat by moving the king, blocking, or capturing.
A special pawn capture: if a pawn advances two squares from its starting rank past an adjacent enemy pawn, the enemy pawn may capture it as if it had moved only one square.
The king moves two squares toward a rook; the rook jumps to the other side. Only possible if neither piece has moved and no squares between them are under attack or occupied.
When a pawn reaches the opposite back rank, it is promoted — usually to a queen for maximum power.
If the player to move has no legal move and their king is not in check, the game is a draw.
Opening Principles
Place pawns and pieces in the center (d4, d5, e4, e5 squares) to maximize mobility and restrict your opponent.
In the opening, move knights and bishops out before your queen. Aim to castle within the first 10 moves.
Castle early to tuck your king behind pawns. An exposed king in the middlegame is a common losing factor.
The queen is your most powerful piece, but moving it early invites harassment from opponent pieces gaining tempo.
After castling and developing, aim to place both rooks on open files or connect them on the back rank.
Avoid doubled, isolated, or backward pawns. A healthy pawn structure supports long-term strategic play.
Frequently Asked Questions
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