Lesson 1History of ChessWhy We Teach ChessGoal of Chess

The origins of chess are not exactly clear, though most believe it evolved from earlier chess-like games played in India almost 2000 years ago.

The game of chess we know today has

been around for more than 500 years!

Examples of early chess pieces.

Example of today’s themed chess pieces.

Focusing

Visualizing

Thinking Ahead

Weighing Options

Sequencing

Decision Making

Planning

Sportsmanship

Almost 30 nations integrate chess into their schools.

Bell Fork Elementary Team1st Place 2013 & 2014

You and your opponent are each in charge of an army. Your goal is outsmart your opponent by capturing pieces and putting the other army’s King in checkmate.

What is a checkmate? How did you win? Their King is under attack. He is in check. Their is now way for the king to move out of check Their King has no way to capture his attacker. Their King has no piece to block the attack.

Lesson 2Getting to Know the Board

A chess board looks very much like a checker board, but the games are TOTALLY different.

Chess is played on a board with 64 squares of alternating colors.

Chess is a game for 2 people.

Each player has 16 pieces in their army.

The colors of a chess board can be any two contrasting colors. White and Black are very common.

Chess piece colors may or may not match the board colors.

The board must be placed with a light square at each player’s right.

The players’ right hand will always be…

“Right on White.”

Player 1 sits here.

Player 2 sits here.

The rows are called ranks and are numbered 1-8.

White sets up on rows 1 & 2.

Black sets up on rows 7 & 8.

Player 1 sits here.

Player 2 sits here.

The columns are called files and are labeled a-h.

The army pieces will match across the file.

Player 1 sits here.

Player 2 sits here.

Lesson 3The Pieces

Rooks look like castle towers. Each player starts with 2.

A rook can move horizontally or vertically forwards or backwards.

It has notches on the top to help you remember who it moves.

Rook

Rooks look like castle towers. Each player starts with 2.

A rook can move horizontally or vertically forwards or backwards.

It has notches on the top to help you remember who it moves.

Knights look like horses. Each player starts with 2.

A Knight can jump over pieces.

It moves in the shape of an L. If you look at the pieces, the horse is in this shape to help you remember how it moves.

Knight

Knights look like horses. Each player starts with 2.

A Knight can jump over pieces.

It moves in the shape of an L. If you look at the pieces, the horse is in this shape to help you remember how it moves.

Bishops look like they are wearing a funny hat. Each player starts with 2.

Bishops move diagonally. They have a slanted notch through their hat to help you remember.

Each player has 1 bishop that can control the dark squares and 1 that can control the light squares.

Bishop

Bishops look like they are wearing a funny hat. Each player starts with 2.

Bishops move diagonally. They have a slanted notch through their hat to help you remember.

Each player has 1 bishop that can control the dark squares and 1 that can control the light squares.

Queens look like they are wearing a crown. Each player starts with 1.

The Queen is the most powerful piece! It can move in any direction.

Queens always start the game on their color, which will be on file d1 & d8. “Queen on Color.”

Queen

Queens look like they are wearing a crown. Each player starts with 1.

The Queen is the most powerful piece! It can move in any direction.

Queens always start the game on their color, which will be on file d1 & d8. “Queen on Color.”

Kings are usually the tallest piece on the board. On many boards he has a cross on his head. Each player starts with 1.

The King can move like a queen, but he is slow. He can only move 1 square each move.

The King cannot move into check, or into an attack. That is an illegal move in a game.

King

Kings are usually the tallest piece on the board. On many boards he has a cross on his head. Each player starts with 1.

The King can move like a queen, but he is slow. He can only move 1 square each move.

The King cannot move into check, or into an attack. That is an illegal move in a game.

Pawns are the smallest pieces on the board. Each player starts with 8.

Pawns are the least powerful, but have HUGE potential.

Pawn

Pawns are the smallest pieces on the board. Each player starts with 8.

Pawns are the least powerful, but have HUGE potential.

1. Pawns move 1 square at a time straight ahead.

2. Each Pawn may move one or two squares on the first move.

3. Pawns never move backwards or sideways.

Pawn

- but-

- and-

4. Any Pawn gets to the end of the board it will be promoted to any piece except a King.

5. Pawns get blocked and cannot move if any piece is straight in front of them.

6. Pawns only make captures on diagonals – 1 square ahead.

Pawn- if-

- and-

- but-

Each piece has its own unique rules of movement. Remember: There are clues on our pieces here at school that will help you remember how it is allowed to move.

Ex. This “slash” helps you remember that it moves diagonally.

Lesson 4Check & Illegal MovesGetting Out of CheckCheckmate

If a King is in check (attacked), that player has no choice but to try and get out of check. They cannot do anything else.

If they try any other move, it will be considered an “illegal move” and the other player should not allow it to happen.

“Check”

Black has just moved from A4 to A1, placing the White King in check.

Getting in Check is like when a policeman turns on his lights to pull over a car.

Saying “check” is required and it let’s the player know their King is in trouble.

“Check”

Black has just moved from A4 to A1, placing the White King in check.

A player has no choice when they are in check. Their next move must get them out of check. Any other move is considered “illegal” and is not allowed.

“You are still in check. That’s an

illegal move”

White moves the King to F1. Black’s rook is still checking

White’s King.

If the player does not get out of check with his or her move, they must go back and make a move that gets them out of check.

The other player cannot take their turn until the 1st player gets out of check. This would also be considered an illegal move.

“Check”

White has moved back to E1. White must make a move that

gets the King out of check.

Move the King to safe square.

Capture the piece that is attacking the King.

Block the attack by moving another piece in between the King and the other army’s attack.

White has decided to move the king out of check.

D2 is a safe square for the White King to move to.

Black can now make the next move, and the game can continue.

“Check”

White moves the King to D2.

If a King is in “check” and cannot Move the King to safe square. Capture the piece that is attacking the

King. Block the attack by moving another

piece in between the King and the other army’s attack.

It’s a checkmate!

Chess Kids Video