Players need to understand the vital rules in their entirety before beginning to play. For the readers, we will go over some of the subjects associated with official chess rules in this text.
What are the chess rules?
The chess rules set particular guidelines for each player and regulate the game. There are two colors in this game, each representing one player. They are usually white and black, with the white always starting the game first. The game is played with chess pieces on a chessboard. When the players are face-to-face (also known as over-the-board), a physical chessboard and 16 pieces are required for each player. When players battle it out online, the site automatically sets up the game.
Gameplay rules in chess
Chessboard setup
For every side, there are sixteen pieces. The pieces are designated as follows: Pawn (8), Bishop (2), Rook (2), Queen (1), Knight (2), and King (1).
Some chess rules govern where these pieces go on the chessboard. A chessboard has sixty-four squares; at the beginning of the game, thirty-two of these are covered by chess pieces. Of those sixty-four squares, thirty-two are light, and the remaining thirty-two are dark.
Players must check that their pieces are positioned correctly before placing them on the board. Each side of the board should have a black square in the bottom left corner. For that corner square, “a-file” (which indicates the a-file) should also be visible for the White player.
The letters and numbers are used in the algebraic notation to notate the moves during the games.
1) The pawns.
Placing all the pawns is an excellent way to start to set up the board. The eight pawns we mentioned should be placed at the second rank of each player (seventh rank for the Black player).
2) The Rooks.
The next step is to locate the Rooks on the very corner squares. This way, the other pieces will be placed between them.
3) The Knights.
Then, we locate the Knights next to our Rooks.
4) The Bishops
After that, Bishops are placed next to the Knights.
5) The Queens
Then, the Queens are located on the player’s color.
6) The Kings.
Finally, we give the seat to the last remaining square for our old King.
How pieces move, capture, and turn
After White begins the game, each player moves once each turn. Sides are not allowed to skip any turns, and if one player cannot make a legal move, the game ends with a result.
Let’s start discovering the pieces with the Queen.
Each party begins the game with one Queen. If any pawns are promoted, the player can choose to have a new Queen. The Queen can move in any direction along the diagonal, horizontal or vertical.
The movement of the Queen.
The Queen is the sum of a Rook and a Bishop. This enables her to cover many places and shift the target within seconds. She is considered to have nine points of value, the same as nine pawns.
The Queen attacks the pawn.
She captures the pieces in the same way she moves.
The Queen captured the pawn.
Each side begins the game with two Rooks. The Rook is the strongest piece after the Queen, with five points of value.
The movement of the Rook.
The Rook can move to any square either horizontally or vertically, and it captures similarly as well.
The Bishops are regarded as minor pieces, just like the Knights. Both sides begin with two Bishops. One Bishop is worth three points, and this makes them more readily disposable than major pieces.
The movement of the Bishop.
Both Bishops occupy a different color of the board. This enables both of them to be in tandem. They can move in any diagonal square and capture any piece the same way they move.
Just like Bishops and Rooks, both sides start with a pair of Knights. The Knights are special chess pieces that can be estimated to have a three-point value. This makes them akin to a Bishop.
The movement of the Knight.
They move uniquely; only they have the power to jump over other pieces. They move in the L shape, with two squares directly (vertical or horizontal) and one square perpendicular to it. They also capture any enemy piece the exact way they move.
Both sides start out with one King. He is the most significant chess piece because it is game over if he dies according to the rules of chess.
The movement of the King.
He can be moved one square in all directions, thus making him one of the weakest chess pieces. He can capture any chess piece other than the rival King in the same way he moves. A King cannot land on any square that is occupied by an adversary piece.
Both sides start with eight pawns. In terms of its value, it is worth one point.
The movement of the Pawns.
Compared to the other pieces, they move and grab differently. They advance by one square in the same row. If they have never moved, these pieces may move two squares. They may also take any piece on one square left or right diagonal. When a pawn arrives at the opponent’s first rank, it can promote and become any piece except the King.
Special moves
If any of the pieces we mentioned attack the rival King, it is called a “check.” According to the chess rules, the player under check must deal with this threat.
The White Queen attacks the enemy King.
To avoid check, the player can either capture the assaulting piece, move the King into safety, or block the check with an ally piece.
The Black Knight can block the check.
The King can escape the check by moving the highlighted squares.
The e6-Knight can capture the attacking Queen to stop the check.
The game ends with a checkmate if the enemy cannot avoid the check on their turn.
An example of a checkmate.
The most commonly used special chess rule is perhaps “castling.”
Castling is typically done to get the King well away from danger, and one of those Rooks is working!
An illustration of castling.
Castling cannot be done if the King has moved in any direction prior to castling. Another element required for this move is the Rook. If one of the Rooks moves before castling, the King cannot get castled on that side.
The King cannot castle because g1-square is controlled by the enemy Bishop.
If the King is under check, he can only castle once the threat is dealt with. The pathway of the King should also be safe for castling rules to be viable.
The King may castle either on the long or short sides.
If White King castles on the short side, the King slides two squares right (to the g1-square) and places the h1-Rook one square left (to the f1-square).
If White King castles on the long side, the King slides two squares left (to the c1-square) and places the a1-Rook one square right (to the d1-square).
Similarly, the Black player does the same act symmetrically.
Another crucial special move is “pawn promotion.” Once a pawn lands on the last rank on the board, they can become any chess piece other than the rival King.
White can be promoted if the pawn moves forward.
A promotion to Queen is typically desired due to her excessive power. Occasionally, players might need to promote the pawn to other chess pieces. This condition is called “underpromotion.”
Another special move concerning pawns is “en passant.” Any pawn that moves two squares forward at its initial move and stands beside an enemy pawn of the same rank is subject to being captured “en passant” by the enemy pawn as if it had moved one square only instead of two.
This capture is legal only in the first turn and cannot be applied in subsequent turns.
Draw conditions
Let’s discuss the following conditions regarding the chess draw rules:
1) Insufficient material occurs when either side does not possess enough material to checkmate the enemy. “King versus King, King versus King + Knight, King versus King + Bishop, and any combination of King + one minor piece for each side” is declared a draw.
2) Agreement of a draw occurs when both parties accept the draw and shake hands.
3) Stalemate occurs when one side has no legal move and they are not in check.
Black to play, stalemate by rules!
4) The fifty-move rule occurs when no pawn moves or captures were made in the last fifty moves.
5) Threefold repetition occurs when the exact same position is repeated three times.
6) Running out of time while the enemy has insufficient material occurs when one player loses all of their time, but they cannot lose the chess game due to their opponent’s insufficient material.
Resignation
Resignation means the admission of loss. If one player resigns, the opponent wins the chess game by rules. It is often declared verbally. In online games, there is a resignation button to forfeit from the game.
Touch-move rule
If a player touches any piece to move it, they have to move that piece (if it is legally available) in that turn by chess rules. If the piece is not dropped on the new square, the player can choose where to put it. If the intention is to adjust the piece, players should say “I adjust” or “J’adoube” before adjusting the piece to avoid confusion.
Tournament play rules
There are several other chess rules for competitive chess. Chess tournament rules may vary depending on the time format, the chess federation, and the tournament type.
These are some of the most common rules of chess, according to FIDE:
1) The players must use one hand to move the pieces.
2) Each player must record their moves in their scoresheet (unless it is a blitz game).
3) Players must state their intention of adjusting the piece (such as J’adoube) before touching it.
4) Wins gain one (1) point, draws gain half a point, and losses do not gain any points.
The complete rules of FIDE are outside the scope of this article. Competitive players can reach out to FIDE’s chess rules manual to ensure they don’t miss anything!
Time control rules
The clocks work in such a way that only one clock runs at a time. If the given time has expired for that player, they lose the game by official chess rules unless the opponent has insufficient material (in that case, the game ends with a draw).
Before the game, the referee chooses where to put the clock on the board. Once the game starts, the player’s clock with the White pieces starts ticking.
If a player claims a condition inaccurately, the opponent might gain extra time, or the player who claimed the condition might have a time penalty.
The time controls are divided into classical and fast time controls. Among the fast time controls, the most popular ones are the rapid and blitz time controls.
In classical games, both sides have at least 120 minutes in their clock (which may increase after the move-60) for master-level players. This number can decrease to 60 minutes for amateur players.
In rapid games, both parties have 10 to 60 minutes by chess rules.
According to FIDE, 10 or fewer minutes are considered blitz games. However, most online platforms consider the games until 3 minutes “bullet” rather than blitz.
Conclusion
The chess players must acknowledge the chess rules mentioned to be proficient in this game. Some of the tournaments apply different rules of chess game for different time formats. It is recommended to look at the tournament regulations before diving into the battle.
