Chess is played on an 8×8 board with alternating light and dark squares. Each player begins with 16 pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. The board is oriented so that each player has a light square on their right-hand corner. The second rank is filled with pawns, while the back rank is arranged (from left to right) as rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight, rook. The white queen always starts on a light square, and the black queen on a dark square.

Each piece moves in a distinct way. The king moves one square in any direction. The queen moves any number of squares along ranks, files, or diagonals. The rook moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically. The bishop moves diagonally across any number of squares. The knight moves in an L-shape: two squares in one direction and then one square perpendicular. Knights can jump over other pieces. Pawns move forward one square but capture diagonally. On their first move, pawns may advance two squares.

Capturing occurs when a piece moves to a square occupied by an opponent’s piece. The captured piece is removed from the board. Pawns capture diagonally, not forward. The goal of the game is to checkmate the opponent’s king—placing it under threat of capture with no legal escape. A check is a threat to the king; the player must respond by moving the king, capturing the threatening piece, or blocking the threat.

There are several special rules in chess. Castling is a move involving the king and a rook. The king moves two squares toward the rook, and the rook jumps over the king to the adjacent square. Castling can only occur if neither piece has moved, the squares between them are empty, and the king is not in check or moving through check. En passant is a special pawn capture that occurs when a pawn moves two squares forward from its starting position and lands beside an opponent’s pawn. The opponent may capture it as if it had moved only one square. Promotion occurs when a pawn reaches the eighth rank. It must be promoted to a queen, rook, bishop, or knight—usually a queen.

A player may resign at any time, conceding the game. A game can also end in a draw. Common draw conditions include stalemate (no legal moves and the king is not in check), threefold repetition (the same position occurs three times), fifty-move rule (no pawn moves or captures in fifty consecutive moves), insufficient material (neither player has enough material to checkmate), and mutual agreement.

Chess is governed by touch-move rules in formal play. If a player touches a piece, they must move it if legal. If they touch an opponent’s piece, they must capture it if possible. Adjusting pieces on the board must be done with a verbal “j’adoube” or “I adjust.” Illegal moves must be corrected before the opponent moves. Repeated illegal moves may result in penalties or forfeiture.

Time controls regulate the pace of play. Players may have a fixed amount of time for the entire game or incremental time added per move. Common formats include blitz (3–5 minutes), rapid (10–30 minutes), and classical (longer formats). If a player’s time runs out, they lose unless the opponent lacks mating material. Digital clocks often include increment (extra time per move) or delay (a pause before time starts ticking).

In tournaments, games are recorded using algebraic notation. Each square is identified by a letter (a–h) and number (1–8). Moves are written using piece initials (K for king, Q for queen, R for rook, B for bishop, N for knight) and destination square. Pawn moves omit initials. Captures are marked with “x,” checks with “+,” and checkmate with “#.” Castling is written as “O-O” (kingside) or “O-O-O” (queenside).

Chess is regulated by the FIDE Laws of Chess, which define rules for over-the-board play. These include conduct, scoring, appeals, and tournament procedures. Players must not receive outside assistance, use electronic devices, or distract opponents. Disputes are resolved by arbiters. Games may be adjourned or postponed under specific conditions. In team events, board order and match points determine standings.

Scoring systems vary. In individual tournaments, players earn 1 point for a win, 0.5 for a draw, and 0 for a loss. In team events, match points are awarded based on board results. Tie-breaks may include Sonneborn-Berger, direct encounter, or number of wins. Some events use knockout formats, while others use round-robin or Swiss systems.

Chess etiquette includes shaking hands before and after games, respecting opponents, and maintaining silence during play. Spectators must not interfere. Players should not offer draws repeatedly or distractively. Sportsmanship is valued, and unsporting behavior may be penalized. In online play, fair use of tools and respectful conduct are expected.

Variants of chess may modify rules. Examples include Chess960 (randomized starting positions), Bughouse (team play with piece transfers), and Three-check (win by checking three times). These variants have their own rule sets but retain core mechanics. Understanding standard rules is essential before exploring variants