Chess 101 – Chess Setup and Rules

To learn chess, you need to know and understand its rules and how to set up the board and its pieces. Part of the lesson is identifying how certain pieces should move and where they can go. There may be a lot of references to help you get started, but we have listed down the essential things you must know about chess setup and rules to make it easier for you:

• Know the goal of chess – The ultimate objective of the game is the checkmate, which happens when you are able to trap the King of your opponent. Checkmate comes from ‘Shah Mat,’ a Persian phrase that literally means, ‘the King is ambushed.’

• Basic setup – The chessboard has eight columns and rows, totaling 64 alternating color squares. A unique pair of number and a letter corresponds to each square. Vertical files are identified as A to H, from the left of White (queenside) to the right. Horizontal ranks are numbered one to eight, starting from the area nearest to White’s side. Every square is identified by a file letter and a rank number. Basic chess setup and rules call for the white Queen to be on a white square, and the black Queen must be on a black square.
  
• Remember: White moves first – One of the most important things to remember in chess setup and rules is whoever takes the White side between you and your opponent starts the game. You will be taking turns, alternately moving a piece at a time. Movement is necessary, so you cannot pass.

• What happens if there are no moves left? - If it is your opponent’s turn to move and they are not in check, but they do not have legal moves anymore, that is a ‘Stalemate,’ which means that the game has ended in a draw.

• Every piece is allowed to move in a certain way – You may move a piece to another square or capture a piece of your opponent and replace it on its position. En passant, however, is an exception. A piece is unable to move through or over any other piece, except for the Knight.
  

Mastering the chess setup and rules calls for frequent practice and proper instruction from a qualified instructor. So, consider playing chess online and study with help from a chess instructor.

Finding the Best Chess Teacher to Learn Chess Strategies

Chess is certainly fun, but it can be hard to learn. It is a ‘mind game’ that requires you to make smart and strategic movements in order to win against your opponent or at least prevent a quick downfall. Have you considered hiring chess teachers to learn the right techniques?

It’s much easier to learn chess strategies when you have people around you who also play the game. But this is often not enough. Casual players often don’t have the skills to teach others; at most, you can only learn the basic movements of each piece and the game’s rules and regulations from them. If you’re serious about getting better at chess, it’s time to find a chess teacher.

Chess classes can be expensive and troublesome since it is mostly conducted in a classroom setting where you must leave your house. But fortunately, there are now a lot of websites where you can learn chess online.

When looking for classes, look for a site that is ranked as a leading online chess school. Make sure that they offer live sessions from real time chess teachers. These classes should be tailored to fit each students’ needs.

Be sure to join a class that is beginner friendly and caters to your age group. Also, if you are a person with special needs, look for an online chess school that has teachers who specialize in your needs. Most importantly, enroll in a class that is taught by a reputable online chess teacher who has many successful students in the field of chess.

Chess is not only a fun game-it has also been proven to be a great way to increase one’s IQ. It is also a perfect activity to teach your children as it can help them focus. Chess can be social, too, as it lets you meet new people and make new acquaintances.

How Effective is Chess Learning Software?

The world today is immensely different from three decades ago. From a world that has never heard about computers to one where computers can be worn and brought everywhere, technology has gone a long way in changing the way people process and exchange information, communicate, and do things in general—even the most basic chores. The rise of the computer age enhanced by the connectedness that the world wide web and the internet bring has given way to a brand-new world run by digital tools. A chess learning software is one such fruit of the information and digital age. The question remains, just how effective are these man-made tools in providing the training and learning that students need to get better in the game?

There are all kinds of chess learning software that float around the market, some offered for free online. Websites that provide chess learning resources are also widespread, providing chess enthusiasts and those who are serious about improving their skills with all kinds of tools and programs designed to help them succeed at their training goals. If you enjoy online modules and the gamification of learning, you will find chess learning software programs to be extremely beneficial in your quest to enhance your chess skills.

Chess tactics websites, for instance, are widely available online. If you are interested in enhancing your tactical skills, these are great places to practice as they provide a wide range of tools and practice modules that you can use to sharpen your skills. Opening trees are also quite popular with chess players, as well as chess engines that are designed to analyze games and help you work through common mistakes that you are committing throughout the course of your own matches or perhaps learn from other people’s mistakes. These, along with actual chess learning software programs that offer chess lessons are great tools for enhancing your skills and knowledge in/of chess.