History of Chess
Chess is one of the oldest and most widely played board games in the world, with a history dating back to around the 6th century AD in India. Originally, chess evolved from an ancient Indian game called Chaturanga, which later spread to Persia, then to the Arab world, and eventually reached Europe through Arab traders and conquerors.
During the Middle Ages, chess became popular in Europe and gradually evolved. In the late 15th century, significant rule changes were introduced, such as enhancing the movement capabilities of the queen, making the game faster and more strategically complex. This marked the beginning of "modern chess."
In the 19th century, chess developed into a competitive sport, with an increasing number of international tournaments. In 1849, the standardized design of the chessboard and pieces, known today as the "Staunton" chess pieces, was introduced. In 1924, the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) was founded, ushering chess into an era of organized governance. The establishment of the World Chess Championship and the rating system further professionalized and globalized the game.
Today, chess is not only a symbol of intelligence and strategy but also transcends cultural boundaries as a global competitive sport. With the development of artificial intelligence and online gaming platforms, chess continues to attract a growing number of enthusiasts worldwide.
(Photo courtesy of rhe Royal Library of the Monastery of El Escorial)
Basic Rules of Chess
In chess, the initial setup is as shown in the diagram. Additionally, please note:
1.Regardless of whether you are playing as White or Black, the lower-left corner should always be a dark square.
2.If the board has coordinates, the white rook should be placed on a1.
3.The white queen starts on a light square, while the black queen starts on a dark square.
4.White always moves first at the beginning of the game.
Pieces's Point Value
How the Pieces Move
The King
The king can move one square in any direction. The black dots indicate the possible moves of the king.
The Queen
The queen can move multiple squares in any direction. The black dots indicate the possible moves of the queen.
The Bishop
The bishop can move multiple squares along the diagonals. The black dots indicate the possible moves of the bishop.
The Knight
The knight moves in an "L" shape and is the only piece that can jump over other pieces. The black dots indicate the possible moves of the knight.
The Rook
The rook can move multiple squares vertically or horizontally. The black dots indicate the possible moves of the rook.
The Pawn
Pawns can move one or two squares forward, but they can only move two squares on their first move. After that, they can only move one square forward at a time. Pawns are also the only pieces whose capturing method differs from their movement. They can only capture an opponent's piece one square diagonally in front of them. Lastly, pawns are the only pieces that cannot move backward.
Special Moves
Pawn Promotion
Pawns are the only piece in chess that can promote. Pawn promotion occurs when the Pawn reaches the end rank of opposite side of the board (1st rank of black, 8th rank of white).
En Passant
En Passant is a special Pawn move. If a Pawn steps forward two squares and landing adjacent to an opponent's Pawn, the opponent's Pawn may capture your Passant and move one square forward. The En Passant capture is optional, because it only take place after a Pawn moves two squares and only on the move immediately following.
Castling
Castling is a special move to make the King safer. In one turn, the Castling is done by having the king move two squares in the direction of the Rook, and then the Rook crosses over the king and is placed on the square adjacent to the king.[Ref.Figure1& Figure2]
Rules of Castling:
1.The King cannot castle if either the King or the Rook involved have already moved in that round.
2.There can be no pieces between the King and the Rook.
3.The King cannot castle while in check. [Ref.Figure3]
4.The King cannot castle into or through checkmate.[Ref.Figure4]
5.The King can never "un-castle" after castiling already.
6.Moving with single hand, King moves firstly and Rook moves secondly.
Download Game Instructions
Chess Game Instructions
For the complete game manual, please click "Download PDF" below to view.
Size Standards
Chess Board Dimensions Basics and Guidelines
The geometry of a chessboard is relatively simple, but the relationship between the chessboard's dimensions, the size of the squares, and the size of the pieces is more complex than one might expect. Below, we will introduce the basic dimensions of chess and common standards, while also delving into the key factors to consider when selecting a chessboard and set.
1.Chess board basics
The chessboard is made up of an 8x8 grid. This grid results in 64 alternating colored squares, 32 light squares and 32 dark squares. The size of each individual square is identical, and the board should measure the same on all 4 sides.
2.Chess board & Piece standards
For over-the-board (OTB) tournament play, the standards for boards and pieces can differ slightly from country to country. For example, the United States Chess Federation (USCF) states that square size should be anywhere from 2 inches to 2.5 inches (5 to 5.35 cm), while the king's height should be 3.375 inches to 4.5 inches (8.6 to 11.5 cm). The standard USCF tournament set has 2.25-inch squares and a king's height of 3.75 inches.
The standard USCF and FIDE World Championship Chess sets pictured above are merely two examples of board and set combinations. The possible combinations for boards and sets are almost limitless. Next, we will look at some guidelines for both boards and pieces, as well as some strong relationships between them.
3.Piece guidelines
Piece Proportions:
Both FIDE and USCF provide the same guidelines, stating that the diameter of the king's base should be 40-50% of the king's height.
Board and Piece Proportions:
The guideline for the relationship between the diameter of the king's base and the size of the chessboard squares is that the diameter of the king's base should occupy 75-80% of the square size. This proportion determines whether the combination of the chessboard and pieces has the appropriate spacing between the pieces.
An example of standard USCF board and piece dimensions that follow the 75-80% rule:
The king's height is 3.75 inches (9.5 cm), with a base diameter of 1.75 inches (4.45 cm) (47% of the king's height), and the square size is 2.25 inches (5.7 cm). Here, the ratio of the king's base diameter to the square size is 77%. By following the 75-80% rule, this ensures appropriate spacing between the chessboard and pieces, which is ideal for any type of OTB game (such as tournaments, blitz, analysis, friendly matches, etc.).
The official chessboard and piece spacing for the FIDE World Chess Championship is slightly different. The space between the pieces is smaller because the square size is 2 inches (5 cm) instead of 2.25 inches (5.7 cm). Many players prefer to play on a slightly more compact board.
Ignoring the 75-80% rule can lead to spatial imbalance. If the ratio of the king's base diameter to the square size is too high, the board will appear overly crowded. In the example below, the board has square sizes of 1.875 inches, while the king is 3.75 inches tall with a base diameter of 1.75 inches. This results in a base-to-square ratio of 93%.
4.Set spacing tests
You can perform a simple test to check if the board has enough space:
According to USCF standards, most tournament chess sets should allow four pawns to fit within a single square. If you are using a standard USCF board and piece combination, the pieces will pass this "four-pawn test."
When it comes to board size and selecting the right board and pieces for play, many rules, standards, sizes, ranges, and ratios need to be considered. The information provided above is not only useful for competitive play but also serves as a reference for casual chess games.
The goal of choosing the right board and piece combination is simple: to play on a board that is appropriately sized.
Chess is one of the oldest and most widely played board games in the world, with a history dating back to around the 6th century AD in India. Originally, chess evolved from an ancient Indian game called Chaturanga, which later spread to Persia, then to the Arab world, and eventually reached Europe through Arab traders and conquerors.
During the Middle Ages, chess became popular in Europe and gradually evolved. In the late 15th century, significant rule changes were introduced, such as enhancing the movement capabilities of the queen, making the game faster and more strategically complex. This marked the beginning of "modern chess."
In the 19th century, chess developed into a competitive sport, with an increasing number of international tournaments. In 1849, the standardized design of the chessboard and pieces, known today as the "Staunton" chess pieces, was introduced. In 1924, the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) was founded, ushering chess into an era of organized governance. The establishment of the World Chess Championship and the rating system further professionalized and globalized the game.
Today, chess is not only a symbol of intelligence and strategy but also transcends cultural boundaries as a global competitive sport. With the development of artificial intelligence and online gaming platforms, chess continues to attract a growing number of enthusiasts worldwide.
(Photo courtesy of rhe Royal Library of the Monastery of El Escorial)
In chess, the initial setup is as shown in the diagram. Additionally, please note:
1.Regardless of whether you are playing as White or Black, the lower-left corner should always be a dark square.
2.If the board has coordinates, the white rook should be placed on a1.
3.The white queen starts on a light square, while the black queen starts on a dark square.
4.White always moves first at the beginning of the game.
Pieces's Point Value
How the Pieces Move
The King
The king can move one square in any direction. The black dots indicate the possible moves of the king.
The Queen
The queen can move multiple squares in any direction. The black dots indicate the possible moves of the queen.
The Bishop
The bishop can move multiple squares along the diagonals. The black dots indicate the possible moves of the bishop.
The Knight
The knight moves in an "L" shape and is the only piece that can jump over other pieces. The black dots indicate the possible moves of the knight.
The Rook
The rook can move multiple squares vertically or horizontally. The black dots indicate the possible moves of the rook.
The Pawn
Pawns can move one or two squares forward, but they can only move two squares on their first move. After that, they can only move one square forward at a time. Pawns are also the only pieces whose capturing method differs from their movement. They can only capture an opponent's piece one square diagonally in front of them. Lastly, pawns are the only pieces that cannot move backward.
Pawn Promotion
Pawns are the only piece in chess that can promote. Pawn promotion occurs when the Pawn reaches the end rank of opposite side of the board (1st rank of black, 8th rank of white).
En Passant
En Passant is a special Pawn move. If a Pawn steps forward two squares and landing adjacent to an opponent's Pawn, the opponent's Pawn may capture your Passant and move one square forward. The En Passant capture is optional, because it only take place after a Pawn moves two squares and only on the move immediately following.
Castling
Castling is a special move to make the King safer. In one turn, the Castling is done by having the king move two squares in the direction of the Rook, and then the Rook crosses over the king and is placed on the square adjacent to the king.[Ref.Figure1& Figure2]
Rules of Castling:
1.The King cannot castle if either the King or the Rook involved have already moved in that round.
2.There can be no pieces between the King and the Rook.
3.The King cannot castle while in check. [Ref.Figure3]
4.The King cannot castle into or through checkmate.[Ref.Figure4]
5.The King can never "un-castle" after castiling already.
6.Moving with single hand, King moves firstly and Rook moves secondly.
Chess Game Instructions
For the complete game manual, please click "Download PDF" below to view.
Chess Board Dimensions Basics and Guidelines
The geometry of a chessboard is relatively simple, but the relationship between the chessboard's dimensions, the size of the squares, and the size of the pieces is more complex than one might expect. Below, we will introduce the basic dimensions of chess and common standards, while also delving into the key factors to consider when selecting a chessboard and set.
1.Chess board basics
The chessboard is made up of an 8x8 grid. This grid results in 64 alternating colored squares, 32 light squares and 32 dark squares. The size of each individual square is identical, and the board should measure the same on all 4 sides.
2.Chess board & Piece standards
For over-the-board (OTB) tournament play, the standards for boards and pieces can differ slightly from country to country. For example, the United States Chess Federation (USCF) states that square size should be anywhere from 2 inches to 2.5 inches (5 to 5.35 cm), while the king's height should be 3.375 inches to 4.5 inches (8.6 to 11.5 cm). The standard USCF tournament set has 2.25-inch squares and a king's height of 3.75 inches.
The standard USCF and FIDE World Championship Chess sets pictured above are merely two examples of board and set combinations. The possible combinations for boards and sets are almost limitless. Next, we will look at some guidelines for both boards and pieces, as well as some strong relationships between them.
3.Piece guidelines
Piece Proportions:
Both FIDE and USCF provide the same guidelines, stating that the diameter of the king's base should be 40-50% of the king's height.
Board and Piece Proportions:
The guideline for the relationship between the diameter of the king's base and the size of the chessboard squares is that the diameter of the king's base should occupy 75-80% of the square size. This proportion determines whether the combination of the chessboard and pieces has the appropriate spacing between the pieces.
An example of standard USCF board and piece dimensions that follow the 75-80% rule:
The king's height is 3.75 inches (9.5 cm), with a base diameter of 1.75 inches (4.45 cm) (47% of the king's height), and the square size is 2.25 inches (5.7 cm). Here, the ratio of the king's base diameter to the square size is 77%. By following the 75-80% rule, this ensures appropriate spacing between the chessboard and pieces, which is ideal for any type of OTB game (such as tournaments, blitz, analysis, friendly matches, etc.).
The official chessboard and piece spacing for the FIDE World Chess Championship is slightly different. The space between the pieces is smaller because the square size is 2 inches (5 cm) instead of 2.25 inches (5.7 cm). Many players prefer to play on a slightly more compact board.
Ignoring the 75-80% rule can lead to spatial imbalance. If the ratio of the king's base diameter to the square size is too high, the board will appear overly crowded. In the example below, the board has square sizes of 1.875 inches, while the king is 3.75 inches tall with a base diameter of 1.75 inches. This results in a base-to-square ratio of 93%.
4.Set spacing tests
You can perform a simple test to check if the board has enough space:
According to USCF standards, most tournament chess sets should allow four pawns to fit within a single square. If you are using a standard USCF board and piece combination, the pieces will pass this "four-pawn test."
When it comes to board size and selecting the right board and pieces for play, many rules, standards, sizes, ranges, and ratios need to be considered. The information provided above is not only useful for competitive play but also serves as a reference for casual chess games.
The goal of choosing the right board and piece combination is simple: to play on a board that is appropriately sized.
