For the rules of chess, see GameHelpChess

On Every move

Look at your opponent's last move

What does it change?

Can I capture my opponent's piece?

Is my opponent threatening to capture any of my pieces?

Can I recapture?

Can I move my attacked piece to a safer square?

Can I threaten to capture a piece of at least the same value?

Is another piece unprotected?

Look at the square you are moving to

Can my opponent capture this piece if I move it here?

Can I recapture?

Can I find a better move?

Example thought process

Example thought process

The black knight just moved from e5 to d3.

What would you play here?

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• My opponent moved their knight
  • Can I capture this knight?
    • Yes, with my queen!
      • But then my queen will be captured by their queen - bad move
  • This knight is threatening to capture a pawn
    • I can recapture - no problem
  • This knight is also threatening to capture my rook!
    • Where can I move my rook this turn?
      • I can move my rook to the left one square
        • It can be captured by a bishop there
      • I can move my rook to the left two squares
        • The knight can also capture it there
      • I can move my rook to the a-file or the b-file
        • It can only be captured by another rook those squares
          • I can recapture, so moving my rook to that square is OK
  • Their knight move left a pawn unprotected
    • I can now capture this pawn with my knight
      • This also places my opponent's king in check
      • This also threatens to capture their queen!
        • I move my knight to capture the pawn on f7

At the start of the game

1. Move a pawn to control one of the central 4 squares of the board
2. Move Knights and Bishops to control the centre
3. Castle with your King and Rook
4. Move both knights and both bishops at least once before moving the queen or one piece multiple times

Castling

The fastest castle can be completed in just 4 moves!

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• After castling, avoid moving the protective pawns in front of your king
• Avoid moving your second most valuable piece - the queen - until the middle of the game

In the middle of the game

Once you have completed the above, decide on where to attack - usually one of:

• In the centre
• On the kingside (the half of the board where the kings start: files e through h)
• On the queenside (the half of the board where the queens start: files a through d)

• Use knights and bishops to attack the same squares, often an opponent's pawn
  • a typical early target can be the f2/f7 pawn which can only be recaptured by the king at the start of the game

Near the end of the game

• With fewer pieces on the board, pawns become more important
  • Try not to lose too many pawns
  • Try to promote a pawn to a new queen!
• With few pieces on the board (and minimal chance of checkmate), the king is a fighting piece!
  • Use your king to help promote your own pawns or capture your opponent's pawns