Chess Rulebook
Interactive visual guide — click any rule to see it in action.
The Basics
Chess is played on an 8×8 board between two players — White and Black. Each player starts with 16 pieces. White always moves first. The goal is to checkmate the opponent's King.
Each side has:
- 1 King ♔
- 1 Queen ♕
- 2 Rooks ♖
- 2 Bishops ♗
- 2 Knights ♘
- 8 Pawns ♙
White pieces start on rows 1–2, Black on rows 7–8.
How Pieces Move
Every piece moves differently. Click a piece below to see its movement pattern highlighted on the board. Yellow dots show where it can move.
King
- Moves 1 square in any direction
- Cannot move into check
- Most important piece — protect it!
Pawn Special Rules
Pawns are unique — they move forward only but capture diagonally. On their first move they can advance 1 or 2 squares.
Castling
Castling is the only move where two pieces move at once. The King moves 2 squares toward a Rook, and the Rook jumps to the other side of the King. Used to protect the King and activate the Rook.
En Passant
A special pawn capture. If an opponent's pawn advances 2 squares and lands beside your pawn, you can capture it as if it only moved 1 square. Must be done immediately — the opportunity expires next move.
Check & Checkmate
Check — your King is under attack. You must resolve it immediately by moving the King, blocking, or capturing the attacker. Checkmate — the King is in check with no escape. Game over!
Stalemate & Draw
Stalemate happens when a player has no legal moves but is not in check. The game ends as a draw. Other draws: insufficient material, threefold repetition, or 50-move rule.
Draw conditions:
- Stalemate — no legal moves, not in check
- Threefold repetition
- 50-move rule (no capture/pawn move)
- Insufficient material
- Mutual agreement
⬅ Black King has no legal moves but is not in check — Stalemate!
Pawn Promotion
When a pawn reaches the opposite end of the board (rank 8 for White, rank 1 for Black), it must be promoted to a Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight. Almost always promoted to a Queen.