Chess is played on a square chequered board of eight rows and eight columns. Each player controls 16 pieces, traditionally in black and white. The pieces consist of one King, one Queen, two Rooks (often called Castles), two Bishops, two Knights and eight Pawns.

The aim of the game is to capture your opponent’s king. To do this, players move their pieces in an attempt to capture their opponent’s. Pieces are moved either into an unoccupied square or one occupied by an opponent’s piece; doing so captures the piece and removes it from the game.

Each piece is able to move across the board in a different manner:

• Pawn –Can move forwards either one or two squares at a time. A pawn can only capture an opponent’s piece by moving one square on the diagonal.
• Knight – Can move two spaces in any direction followed by a one space move to the right or left. Knights are able to jump over other pieces.
• Bishop – Can move any number of squares but only on the diagonal.
• Rook – Can move any number of squares along the horizontal or vertical.
• Queen – Can move any number of squares in any direction.
• King – Can only move one square in any direction.

When a King is threatened with capture, it is referred to as being in ‘check’. The relevant player must then move either his King or another piece in order to avoid the check. If, after all possible moves, the King is still under threat the situation is deemed a ‘checkmate’ and the game is over.