In Kenya, not many know about this beautiful game that many have perceived to be the game for the selected few. Just like any other sport, there are rules that govern the game and those used to help one understand the basics of this sport that is as old as humankind.
History of Chess
It is not clearly known where chess originated from but many believe that it evolved from India almost two thousand years ago.
Chess is a game played between two opponents on opposite sides of a board containing 64 squares of alternating colours. Each player has 16 pieces; 1 King, 1 Queen, 2 Rooks, 2 Bishops, 2 Knights and 8 Pawns.
The goal of the game is to checkmate the other King. Checkmate happens when the King is in a position to be captured(in check) and cannot escape from capture.
Starting the game of Chess
At the beginning of the game, the chessboard is laid out so that each player has the white (light) colour square in the bottom right-hand side. The chess pieces are arranged in the same way each time. The second row( also known as rank) is filled with pawns.
The rooks go to the corners, then the knights next to them, followed by the bishops, finally the queen who always goes on her own matching colour (white, black queen on black), the king on the remaining square.
The player with the white pieces always moves first. Therefore players generally decide who will get the white chance or luck such as flipping a coin or having one player guess the color of the hidden pawn in the other player's hand.
White then makes a move followed by black and so on until the end of the game.
How the Chess Pieces Move
Each of the six different kinds of pieces move differently. Pieces cannot move through other pieces(though the knight can jump over other pieces), and can never move onto a square with one of their own pieces.
However, they can be moved into positions where they can capture other pieces(by landing on their square and then replacing them), defend their own pieces in case of capture or control important squares in the game.
Basic Chess Terms:
The King
This is the most important piece, but is one of the weakest. The King can only move one square in any direction - up, down, to the sides and diagonally. The king never moves himself into check(where he could be captured).
The Queen
This is the most powerful piece. She can move in any one straight direction- forward, backward, sideways or diagonally as far as possible as long as she does not move through any of her own pieces, if the queen captures an opponent's piece, her move is over.
The Rook
The rook may move as far as it wants, but only forward, backward and to the sides. The rooks are particularly powerful pieces when protecting each other and working together.
The Bishop
The bishop may move as it wants but diagonally. Each bishop starts on one colour (light dark) and must always stay on that colour. Bishops work together because they cover up each other's weaknesses.
The Knight
Knights move in a very different way from other pieces-going two squares in one direction, and then one more move at a 90 degree angle, just like the shape of an "L". Knights are also the only pieces that can move over other pieces.
The Pawn
Pawns are unusual because they move and capture in different ways; they move forward but capture diagonally. Pawns can only move forward one square at a time, except for their first move where they can move forward two squares.
Pawns can only capture one square diagonally in front of them, They can never move or capture backwards. If there is another piece directly in front of a pawn, he cannot move past or capture that piece.
Promotion
Pawns have another special ability and that is if a pawn reaches the other side of the board it can become any other chess piece(called promotion). A pawn may be promoted to any piece. Normally, it is promoted to a queen.
En Passant
The last rule about pawns is called "en passant", which is French for "in passing". If a pawn moves out two squares in its first move, and lands to the side of an opponent's pawn, the other pawn has the option of capturing the first pawn as it passes. This is a special move that must be done immediately the first pawn has moved past; otherwise the option to capture it is no longer available.
Castling
This allows you to do two important things all in one move, get your rook out of the corner and into the game. On a player's turn he may move his king two squares over to one his king squares over to one side and then move the rook from that side's corner to their right next to the king on the opposite side. In order to castle, however it must meet the following conditions:
- It must be that king's very first move.
-It must be the rook's first move.
- There cannot be any pieces between the king and rook move
- The king may not be in check or pass through check.
Check and checkmate
The purpose of the games is to checkmate the opponent;'s king. This happens when the king is put in check and cannot check out, block the check with another piece or capture the piece that is threatening the king. If a king cannot escape checkmate then the game is over. Customarily, the king is not captured or removed from the board, the game is simply declared over.
Draws
There are times the game ends in a tie and there are five reasons that can lead to that.
- The position reaches where it is one player's turn to over but his king is NOT in check and yet he does not have any other legal move.
- The players may simply agree to draw by stopping playing.
- There are not enough pieces on the board to force a checkmate for example: a king and bishop vs a king.
-A player declares a draw is the same exact position is repeated three times
- Fifty consecutive moves have been played where neither player has moved a pawn or captured a piece.
Tournament Rules
Many tournaments follow a set of common, similar rules. These rules do not necessarily apply to a play at home or online.
Basic Strategies to use when playing chess.
1. Protect your king
Get him in the corner of the board where he is usually safer.
2. Don't give pieces away.
Just like any other game, don't carelessly lose your pieces! Each piece is valuable and you can't win a game without pieces to checkmate.
So no matter what you do, stick to the rules and enjoy your game!