It's time to put the pieces together

So far, we've looked at the board, how the pieces move, checks and checkmate, draws, castling and those slightly unusual pawn moves. It can feel like quite a lot to remember.

But you don't need to remember everything perfectly before you play. The best way to make the rules feel familiar is to actually play a game.

This chapter brings everything together. First, we'll follow a complete (and rather speedy) game. Then you'll have a board where you can play both sides, perhaps taking turns with a friend or family member.

Get the board ready

Set up the pieces in their usual starting positions. Before anybody moves, check these four things:

1. The bottom-right square is light — light on the right.
2. Each queen begins on a square matching her colour: White's queen on d1, Black's queen on d8.
3. The pawns are in front of the other pieces, on ranks 2 and 7.
4. White moves first. After that, players take one turn each.

You can choose colours however you like for a friendly game. If you're using a physical board, the person playing White sits with the white pieces closest to them.

What happens on each turn?

You make one legal move, then it's the other player's turn. A capture still takes one turn. Castling moves a king and rook together, but counts as one move. A promotion happens as part of the pawn's move, not on a separate turn.

A useful little routine is:

• Look: Is my king in check? If so, my move must get out of check.
• Think: Which of my pieces can move, and where can they legally go?
• Move: Make one legal move, then let the other player have their turn.

You never actually capture a king. A game ends in checkmate when the player to move is in check and has no legal way out. A game can also end in a draw, such as stalemate, or when a player resigns. An agreed draw is also possible.

Replay a complete game

Let's follow a very short game from the normal starting position. One player overlooks a threat, and the other delivers checkmate. This is an example of how a game can end, not an opening plan you need to copy. Most games last much longer!

Use Next move to watch each turn. At any point, you can go back and replay it. Notice whose turn it is, which piece moved, and how the final move ends the game.

What went wrong?

Black developed a knight, which often makes sense. But in this particular position the move ignored White's immediate threat against f7. After the queen captured on f7, Black was in check and had no legal escape.

Moving your queen out this early is not a plan to rely on. An alert opponent can defend, and your queen may become a target. The lesson here is to notice threats — both your own and your opponent's — rather than simply memorise the moves.

Try a game of your own

Here is a full board starting from the usual position. It works as a two-player practice board: take a turn for White, then a turn for Black. It does not play against you or choose an opponent's moves.

You can click a piece and then a highlighted destination. You can also pick a legal move from the list underneath the board if you prefer using a keyboard. The board will prevent illegal moves and offer promotion choices when a pawn reaches the final rank.

For your first game, you could take turns with somebody else. If you're on your own, try playing both colours and asking what each side could do next.

Things to notice during your game

Don't worry about winning straight away. See whether you can:

• Develop a knight or bishop instead of moving only pawns.
• Notice when a piece can capture another piece, and whether that capture is safe.
• Find a chance to castle when the rules allow it.
• Spot check and make a legal response.
• Recognise when the game has ended in checkmate or a draw.

Promotion and en passant may not happen in every game, and that's perfectly normal. You already know the rules if they do come up.

How do you know the game is over?

A game doesn't finish because somebody takes the queen, or because one player has only their king left. Remember these common endings:

• Checkmate: A player is in check, with no legal response. Their opponent wins.
• Stalemate: A player is not in check but has no legal move. The game is a draw.
• Other draws: A draw may arise through a dead position, repetition, the move-count rules, or agreement. Some draw rules require a claim.
• Resignation: A player chooses to resign. Their opponent wins (subject to the rules for positions where checkmate is impossible).

If you're not sure whether a position is finished, ask two questions: Is the king in check? Does the player whose turn it is have any legal move? Those answers are often enough to tell checkmate from stalemate.

What to remember

• Put the board the right way around, with light on the right.
• White moves first; players then alternate legal moves.
• Each turn is one move, even when castling moves two pieces or a pawn promotes.
• If you're in check, you must respond to it; you cannot leave your king in check.
• Checkmate wins the game. Stalemate and some other positions are draws.
• The goal of your first few games is not perfect chess. It's getting comfortable playing.

Knowledge check

Ready to bring everything together? Try the questions below. Then play another game whenever you feel like it.