1. Every chess master was once a beginner. Irving Chernev
Introduction to Chess
Every chess master was once a beginner.
Irving Chernev
Chernev was an American-Russian chess player who wrote 20 chess books.

2. How to Set Up the Board and Pieces
Basic rules of chess:
White always starts
One square – one piece
Players shake hands before and after games.

3. The Board
Letters close to you
White on the right
White on the right!

4. The Pawn
Pawns can move only one space forward at any time except for their first move when each pawn has the choice of moving one or two spaces forward. Pawns can capture other pieces by moving one space diagonally to the left or right. “The V shape”

5. The Pawn White pawns start on rank 2, black pawns on rank 7.
Pawns can move only one space forward at any time except for their first move when each pawn has the choice of moving one or two spaces forward.
Pawns can capture other pieces by moving one space diagonally to the left or right.

6. Chess Toss To decide colours of each player
When colours are decided, white always moves first.

7. The Pawn Game
First player to get ONE pawn to the other side wins.

8. The Pawn Game You win the game: a) if your opponent gives up; or
b) if you are the first to capture all your opponent's pawns; or
c) if you are the first to reach the last rank (i.e. your opponent's first rank) with one of your pawns; or
d) if it is your opponent's turn to move but all her pawns are blocked and do not have any moves, while you yourself can make at least one move.
The game is a draw:
a) if the two players agree to call it a draw; or
b) if both sides pawns are blocked up so that neither side can make any moves.
Other rules:
a) If you touch one of your own men when it is your turn to move, you must move it.
b) If you touch one of your opponent's men, you must capture it if you can.
c) Once you make a move, you cannot change it so think carefully.

9. The Rook Show starting position of rooks on board – extreme corners.
The rook moves horizontally and vertically any number of squares, forwards or backwards.
*Display rook’s movement from centre. Next display movement when similar colour pieces block its path. Next display capturing by rook.*

10. The Rook The Rooks begin on the extreme corners of the board.
The rook moves horizontally and vertically any number of squares, forwards or backwards.
A Rook cannot move through or jump pieces but can capture opposition pieces in its way.

11. Rook Challenge
First player to get ONE pawn to the other side wins.

12. Rook Challenge 8 white pawns v’s one black rook Chess toss for colour.
White moves first as always.
White wins if it gets one of its pawns to the rank 8
Black wins if it captures all 8 white pawns
Switch sides after first game.
Incorporate time or remove pawns to differentiate.

13. The Knight
The knights start next to the rooks. The knight moves in an L shape in any direction. So it can move 2 squares sideways and one square up or down or one square sideways and 2 squares up or down. Just like a real horse, the knight can jump other pieces to get where it wants to go. Ask students to place piece in an assigned square and discuss with their partner where the piece can go from there.

14. The Knight The knights start next to the rooks.
The knight moves in an L shape in any direction. So it can move 2 squares sideways and one square up or down or one square sideways and 2 squares up or down.
Just like a real horse, the knight can jump other pieces to get where it wants to go.

15. The Knight

16. O Lonely Knight Game White wins if one pawn reaches the other side.
Black wins if it captures all white pieces or stops it reaching the other side.

17. Dark Knight Game
First player to get ONE pawn to the other side wins.

18. The Dark Knight Game
White:3 pawns (B2, D2, F2) with knight (G1) and rook (A1).
Black: 3 pawns (C7, E7, G7), knight (B8), and rook (H8)
Object of the game is to get one pawn to the opposite side (rank 8 for white, rank 1 for black).
Regular chess rules apply but en passant is not enforced.

19. Interesting Knight Fact
If a knight starts on a light coloured square it will always finish on a dark coloured square (after completing it’s L shape move). Similarly if it starts on a dark coloured square it will finish on a light coloured square.
Try it out!
Pair work: use board and knight piece. Assign the knight to a square and pairs must discuss which squares it can and cannot move to. Firstly pairs are allowed to move the knight but they will then be restricted by not being allowed to touch the piece – students must imagine/picture where it can and cannot move to. Next introduce other pieces which interrupt where the knight can and cannot move to.

20. The Bishop
The bishop begins next to the knight. The bishop moves diagonally any number of spaces, forwards or backwards (make link to rook – like a diagonal rook). Bishops will only ever move on their starting colour. The bishop can be blocked by other pieces. *Demonstrate how a bishop captures other pieces*

21. The Bishop The bishop begins next to the knight.
The bishop moves diagonally any number of spaces, forwards or backwards.
Bishops will only ever move on their starting colour.
The bishop can be blocked by other pieces.

22. Bishops Rule!
White wins if it gets one pawn to the other side of the board
Black wins if it captures all white pieces or stops it reaching the other side.

23. Chess Without Royalty
First player to capture one opposition knight wins.

24. The Queen
The queen starts next on its own colour (white – D1, black – D8)The queen is the most powerful piece on the board. It can move straight or diagonally any number of squares. The queen can be blocked however by other pieces.

25. The Queen
The queen starts next on its own colour (white – D1, black – D8)
The queen is the most powerful piece on the board.
She can move straight or diagonally any number of squares.
The queen can be blocked however by other pieces.

26. The King
The king starts next to the queen. It is the most important piece on the chessboard. If the king is captured the game is over. The king can move one space in any direction. The king can never move onto a square that is being attacked. The king can capture other pieces.

27. The King The king starts next to the queen.
It is the most important piece on the chessboard!
The king can move one space in any direction.
The king can never move onto a square that is being attacked. The king can capture other pieces.

28. Remember the 5 Steps
The board – letters close to you, white on the right
Pawns – ranks 2 and 7
Rooks, knights and bishops
Queen – on its own colour (light or dark)
King – next to queen

29. Early Chess First player to capture the opposition King wins.
This is NOT proper chess!!!
This was how chess was initially played. I was played for a number of years and came to different countries before being developed with the idea of checkmate.

30. No Pawn Chess
First player to capture the opposition King wins.

31. Loser Chess First player to lose all their pieces wins!
If you can capture you must capture!