How to Play Chess
Free chess lessons for beginners, from setting up the board to winning the endgame
Chess is a game for two players on a board of 64 squares. Each player starts with 16 pieces, White moves first, and the aim is to checkmate the other king: attack it so that it has no escape. These 10 free lessons cover the rules in the order you need them, with diagrams and real examples. Start with how to set up a chess board, or jump straight to the rule you came for.
Smart Tactics. Human Mode. Full 3650 power.
Train the patterns that win games, and get suggestions you can actually play — not engine lines you can't reproduce.
14-day money-back guarantee · Cancel anytime
Learn with AI
NewPlay your own moves and get coached in real time: every move explained, the best alternatives ranked, and the lines walked through step by step.
Basics
Set up the board, learn how every piece moves, and see how games are won.
Special moves
The three rules that confuse beginners most. Each one decides real games.
Endgames
Turn an extra piece into a win, and know when a lost position can still be drawn.
Notation
Read and write moves so you can follow books, replay games and analyse your own.
Where to start: the lessons in order
- How to set up a chess board
- How chess pieces move
- How the knight moves
- Castling rules
- The en passant rule
- Pawn promotion and underpromotion
- Checkmate patterns every player should know
- Stalemate rules and traps
- Basic chess endgames
- Chess notation guide
Know the rules already? Read how to get better at chess, then work through chess tactics for beginners and chess endgame strategy.
Practise what you learn
Chess rules at a glance
The goal
Checkmate the enemy king: attack it so that it cannot escape. You never actually capture the king.
See the common checkmates →The setup
Light square on each player's right, queen on her own colour, pawns on the second row. White moves first.
Set up the board →The moves
Rooks move straight, bishops diagonally, the queen both ways, the king one square, the knight in an L. Pawns move forward and capture diagonally.
Learn how each piece moves →The special moves
Castling moves king and rook together, en passant captures a pawn that has just jumped past, and promotion turns a pawn into a new piece.
Start with castling →Check and checkmate
A king under attack is in check, and you must get out of it at once. If there is no way out, it is checkmate and the game is over.
Checkmate patterns →Draws
A game is drawn by stalemate, threefold repetition, the fifty-move rule, insufficient material or agreement.
Learn the stalemate rule →Frequently asked questions
How do I learn chess as a complete beginner?
Take the lessons in order: set up the board, learn how each piece moves, then the three special moves (castling, en passant and pawn promotion). Next learn the basic checkmates and the stalemate rule so you can finish a game. After that, play as much as you can and solve a few puzzles every day.
What is the best way to improve at chess?
Combine four habits. Solve tactical puzzles daily, because most games are decided by a tactic. Review your own games with an engine to find the moves you missed. Play opponents slightly stronger than you. Learn the ideas behind one or two openings instead of memorising many.
Are these chess lessons free?
Yes. All 10 lessons are free, with no sign-up. You can also solve puzzles, use the chess calculator and play 8 of the 11 computer opponents, up to 2600 ELO, for free.
How long does it take to learn chess?
The rules take an afternoon. Most people need a few games before they stop forgetting castling, en passant or stalemate. Getting genuinely strong takes years, and the fastest progress comes from playing regularly and reviewing every game.
What are the basic rules of chess?
Two players, White and Black, take turns moving one piece at a time, starting with White. Each piece moves in its own way, pieces capture by landing on an enemy piece, and the goal is to checkmate the opponent's king. A game can also end in a draw, for example by stalemate.
Now try it on a real position
Reading about a pattern is one thing. Set one up on the board and watch Stockfish 19 show you the strongest continuation and talk you through the idea behind it.
- Stockfish 19
- Up to 3650 ELO
- AI explains every move
- No signup needed
Ready to Practice?
Want more? Try Pro — Go Pro for 3650 ELO analysis, Position Reader & unlimited AI coaching