Learn to play chess
Strategy without borders
White moves first on an 8×8 board. Checkmate the opposing king to win.
Moving pieces
The king moves one square. Rooks move along ranks and files; bishops along diagonals; queens combine both. Knights jump in an L. Pawns move forward, capture diagonally, and may advance two squares from their starting rank if clear.
Special moves and draws
Castling requires an unmoved king and rook, a clear path, and safe king squares. En passant is available immediately after an opposing pawn advances two squares. A pawn reaching the final rank promotes. Claim a draw after threefold repetition or 50 moves per side without a pawn move or capture; you may declare a legal intended move that would meet either threshold. The game draws automatically after fivefold repetition or 75 such moves, unless the last move checkmates. Replays retain the rules recorded when the game was played.