JAVASCRIPTChess Guide

Click one of the white pieces, then click to where you'd like it to move to (this has to be a legal chess move). A record of your move will appear under the 'Game Log', and your opponent will respond with a move.

Check both 'CPU White' and 'CPU Black' to watch a game.

Chess Primer

Chess is played on a board divided into 64 equal squares: The aim of the game is to win by trapping your opponent's king ('checkmate').

White is always first to move and players take turns alternately moving one piece at a time.

Each type of piece has its own method of movement. A piece may be moved to another position or may capture an opponent's piece.

With the exception of the knight, a piece may not move over or through any of the other pieces.

The game ends when one of the players captures his opponent's king, when one of the player's resigns, or there is a stalemate.

When a player's king is threatened by an opposing piece, it is said to be 'in check'.

The value of pieces are: King = Aim; Queen = 9; Rooks = 5 each; Bishops = 3 each; Knights = 3 each; Pawns = 1 each

Basic Moves in Chess

The basic moves of chess are as follows:

Pawn Moves

Pawns cannot move backward or sideways, but must move straight ahead unless they are taking another piece.

Generally pawns move only one square at a time. The exception is the first time a pawn is moved, it may move forward two squares as long as there are no obstructing pieces.

Rook Moves

The rook can move any number of squares in a straight line along any column or row.

Knight Moves

The knight is the only piece on the board that may jump over other pieces. The knight's movement can be viewed as an 'L' laid out at any horizontal or vertical angle.

Bishop Moves

The bishop may move any number of squares in a diagonal direction until it is prevented from continuing by another piece.

Queen Moves

The Queen can move as many squares as she desires and in any direction (barring any obstructions).

King Moves

T he king can move one square in any direction.

Castle Moves

Castling is a special defensive manoeuvre. It is the only time in the game when more than one piece may be moved during a turn.

Castling only occur if there are no pieces standing between the king and the rook. Neither king nor rook may have moved from its original position. There can be no opposing piece that could possibly capture the king in his original square, the square he moves through or the square that he ends the turn. The king moves two squares toward the rook he intends to castle with (this may be either rook).

En Passant

En Passant can only occur when a player exercises his option to move their pawn two squares on its initial movement. When this happens, the opposing player has the option to take the moved pawn 'en passant' as if it had only moved one square. This option only stays open for one move.