Description of Board and Pieces

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Definition:

Chess is board game that is played by millions of people all over the world. While it has existed in

various forms for several centuries, it has only been recognized as a legitimate sport for less than a

hundred years. Chess originated during the tenth century, at which time a formative version of the game

was carried into Europe by Moor invaders via the Iberian Peninsula. Gradually, over the next six hundredyears, many elements of the game i.e. rules and pieces - evolved in to what they are today. Owing to a

steady rise in the games popularity, by the nineteenth century, chess was being played throughout

central and eastern Europe. It was not until 1851, however, that the first chess tournament was organized.

Since its inception, chess has taken on many styles often mirroring the ideals of the era in which it was

played. For instance, romantic chess of the 19nth century is characterized by a heroic style of play that

emphasizes risky "all or nothing" type maneuvers. Modern chess, in contrast, is more practical with greater

emphasis on sound strategy. Although the ultimate objective in chess is to win, the style with which this is

accomplished is of greater importance. A chess player is deemed good by their performance i.e. number

of wins. But a chess player is deemed great by the manner in which they achieve their victory. When

evaluating the quality of a chess game, critics look at two major criteria: unity and harmony of piece

coordination. The greatest feat for any chess player is to win by means of sacrificing material. A sacrifice

occurs when a player intentionally loses pieces in order to exploit a weakness in the enemy position

(configuration of pieces). Such an attack is only possible when all pieces are perfectly coordinated and

poised to attack at the perfect movement. For those who appreciate and understand the game, there are

few things that compare in beauty. When considering the amount of calculation, will power and focus that

is required to accomplish such a thing, one cannot help but feel sense of awe at such a level of human

ingenuity.

Due to the complex nature of chess, it has long been the subject of mathematical and scientific analysis.

This tradition of regarding chess as belonging to the fields of science and mathematics is considered to

have started in the 1800's when players began to take a new approach in evaluating the fundamental

concepts of the game. By employing an analytical method to understanding the governing principles of

chess, players were able to better theorize in terms of strategy (long term goals) and tactics (short term

actions). By analyzing essential components such as the functions and relationship of pieces, vast

improvements were made in the quality of game play. The next major breakthrough in chess theory

occurred in the 1970's when computers were introduced onto the scene. Since computers are capable of

performing millions of calculations a second it was believed that the game would eventually be solved.

More specifically, that computer would find the best moves in any given situation ultimately rendering

humans obsolete. What the computer programmers discovered however, was that human intuition plays

the greatest role in chess. To this day, programmers have yet to create a computer that can perform as

well the best human players.


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Scope

The aim of this description is to introduce and familiarize the fundamental principles of chess. This

description covers both the physical components of the game, and also the governing rules of play. The

definition is intended to provide enough information as to allow individuals with no prior knowledge of

the game to both understand and teach the principles to others.

Objective of the Game:

The primary objective of chess is to place the enemy king in the line of an attacking piece while

simultaniously curtailing its mobibily. An opponent is deemed victorious when he/she is able to attack

the enemy king in such a way as to make its capture unpreventable. When the enemy King is in the line

of an attacking piece it is in check. Play does not continue until the assailed King is moved out of

check to a safe square. If there are no sqaures to which the King can move to avoid capture, it is

checkmated and the game is over.

In this position the white King is within the black Queens line of attack. The white King is checkmated

because all surrounding escape squares (as indicated with X) are within the black Queens range of

attack. Such a position signals the white Kings defeat as it has no legal moves that prevent its capture.

For a better understanding of this concept please review the following information:

Description of Board and Pieces:


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Chess is played by two players who move by turns. Play takes place on a chessboard that contains 64

squares, i.e., ei ght rows of eight squres. The squares are alterately colored white and black. The board

should be arranged in such a way that each player has a white square at his/her right.

The chess pieces are colored light and dark, and are designated as White and Black. Each side starts of

with sixteen chessmen:

1 King

1 Queen

2 Rooks


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2 Knights

2 Bishops

8 Pawns

The starting arrangement of the pieces on the board, looking from the White side:

Black

White

*Note that the Queen starts from the square of its own color and that the King is placed next to its

Queen. (Opposing Kings and Queens face each other.)

White always moves first.


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Moving and Capturing:

A move is the transfer of a chess piece from one square to another. A capture is the removal of an

opposing piece from the board; it is accomplished by physically removing the piece from its square and

replacing it with the capturing piece. (You cannot capture your own piece.)

The Pieces and their Functions

The King can move or capture one square in any direction.

The King can move to any of the indicated squares.

The King cannot move to squares where it may be captured by enemy pieces; nor can the king move to

squares already occupied by its own pieces. The king can capture an enemy piece within its moving

range by removing the enemy piece from the board and occupying the square of the removed enemy

piece.

The king can capture the enemy piece as shown:


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The Queen can move or capture as far as it wants in any direction horizontally, vertically, or diagnolly

unless it is obstructed by a piece belonging to either side.


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The queen can move to any square covered by the arrow.

Here, too, the Queen can move to any square marked within its movement range, but it cannot move to

the square occupied by its own Rook or the squares that lie beyond the Rook.


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The Queen can move to any square within its movement range, or it can capture the Black Bishop by

removing it from the board and placing itself on the square occupied by the Bishop. But, it cannot move

the squares the lie beyond the bishop.

The Rook can move or capture horizontally or vertically like the Queen, but cannot move diagnonally.

The Rook can move to any square within its movement range.

The Rook also captures by removing the enemy piece and occupying its square.


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The Bishop is limited to diagnal moves or captures. It cannot move horizontally or vertically.

Since the Bishop can only move diagonally, it is confined to squares of the same color throughout the

game. The Bishop can capture any enemy piece within its moving range.

The Knight moves differently from any other piece. Its crooked move often confuses beginners.

The Knight moves to squares reached by going two squares vertically or horizontally, and one square to

the left or right. The Knight always lands on a square of a different color from the one it started on. The

Knight is only piece that can jump over other pieces (either its own or the enemys) in the course of its

move.


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The Knight captures in the same way that is moves: by replacing the enemy piece on the square whigh it

moves.

The Pawn, unlike the other pieces, moves in one fashion and captures in another. Also, it can only

advance, never retreat. The Pawn moves forward - never backward one square at a time, as shown:


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However, when the Pawn is on its original square, it has the option of advancing one or two squares onits first move.

The Pawn captures diagonally forward to the left or right, as shown:


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In the position shown below, the White Pawn on the left can capture the Knight; however, it cannot

move one square ahead, since it is blocked by the Black Bishop. Neither Pawn on the right can move

since each blocks the other.

The Pawn, like the other pieces, replaces the piece it captures.

Special Moves

Castlingis a move that allows you to place your King on a square that is reasonably safe from enemy

attack. It is the only move that involves a move of two pieces on a players turn. Castling is accomplished

by the King and either Rook as shown:


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Position before castling on the Kings side of the

board.

Position after castling.

Note: The King is moved two squares toward the Rook he intends to castle with, then the Rook Is placed

on the other side of the King.

Castling may not be played when:

1) The King is in check, i.e., under enemy attack.2) Either the King or Rook involved has previously moved.3) Pieces (either side) are between the King and the Rook.4) Squares passed over or landed on by the King are under enemy attack.

Pawn Promotion:


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When a Pawn reaches the eight rank (the enemys back rank) it is promoted to a Queen, or any other

piece of its own color according to the players choice.

Capturing En Passant: This unique capturing power of a Pawn applies only to the capture of a Pawn by a

Pawn, in specific situations. This occurs when a Pawn on the second rank (horizontal row) uses its option

to advance two squares on its first move and bypasses the enemy Pawn.

Conclusion:

From the slums of Brazil to the icy plains of Siberia, the game of chess captivates and stimulates minds

across the globe. While most people do not consider it to be a sport, unlike scrabble or backgammon,

chess is a recognized Olympic event. At the highest levels of competition, chess is comparable to any art

form; it requires as much creativity as it does mental dexterity. Because chess is such a complex game,

containing an almost infinite number of possible move orders, mathematicians and scientists have

endeavored to understand the mystery at its core but with limited success. It is the mystery however, thatkeeps the game alive.

Description of Board and Pieces

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