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COMPUTER NOT ESSENTIA_
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 STARTING
HE
Harriet Castor
Edited by Rebecca Treays
Designed by Maria Wheatley
and Rachel Wells

2 About chess
4 Setting up
6 The queen
8 The pawns
10 The ,k ing
12 A first game
14 The rooks
16 Exchanges

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 About chess
Chess is one of the oldest This book explains the
board games in the world. rules of chess, and shows
It was first played thousands you how to use your
of years ago. The game is a pieces. There are tips, too
battle between two armies, on how to attack and
called WJ:iite and Black. how to defend.

Chess can be quite a tricky

game to learn, because
there is a lot to remember
at first. As you go through
the book, you may need to
look back at things you
have already learned. There are puzzles
Things you can look up are throughout the book, so
written in bold. You will you can test yourself.
see at the bottom of each The answers are found
page where to find them. on pages 30-31.

2
What you need to play
To play chess , all you need
is a chess set (the two
armies) and a chess board.
You can buy these at most
toy and department stores.
There are 16 pieces in each
army, but only six different
kinds of pieces altogether.
They are all shown in the
photographs below.

Rook Bishop Knight

Pawn Queen King

Although the armies are Each kind of piece has its

called Black and White, they own shape and its own
don1t actually have to be way of moving. Like in any
black and white, as long as army, some pieces are
one is light and one is dark. more powerful than others.

Symbols [I] Pawn [I] Rook

In this book, these picture

~
symbols are used to represent
the pieces. This helps you see
[I] Knight Queen

more clearly where they are

on the board. [A] Bishop f*1
~
King

Internet link For a link co a website where you can find ouc more
about the history of chess, go co www.usborne-quicklinks.com
3
 Setting up
At the start of a game of chess, the players there is a white square in the right-hand
face each other, with their armies lined up corner nearest each player. The pieces are
in front of them. The board is placed so always set out in the pattern shown below.

The king and queen are next to each

other in the two middle squares.

The White queen is The Black queen is

on a pale square. on a dark square

I
I
'

The rooks are in The knights are The bishops are The pawns are in a row in
the corner squares. next to the rooks. next to the knights. front of the other pieces.

You and your opponent take turns at how all the different pieces move and all
moving one piece each. But before you the mles. It may seem difficult at first, but
can play a full game, you have to learn the more you play the easier it will get.

4
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The board Taking sides
A chess board is made up of 64 squares. The side of the board the kings are on is
The rows of squares across the board are called the kingside. The side the queens
called ranks. are on is called the queenside .

The rows up and down the board are On all the boards like this in the book, the
called files. Lines of squares along a slant pieces are placed as if White started on
are called diagonals. the bottom two ranks, as shown here.

Who wins?
Arrows The winner of the game is the player who
Special red arrows are used on the can get his pieces into a position w here
boards to show w here a piece is they can trap the enerpy king. This is
moving to, or when one piece is called checkmate. You can find out more
attacking another. about checkmate on page 10.

This arrow shows a move.The arrow

head points to the square the piece
will reach at the end of its move.

When one piece is attacking

another, a dotted arrow points to
the piece under attack.
Remember, this is not showing
an actual move.

Internet link For a link to a website where you can see pictures of chess pieces
that are over 800 years old, go to www.usborne-quicklinks.com
5
 ~ The queen
On the next few
pages you will
How the queen moves
learn how all the The queen can move in any one
different pieces direction for any number of squares.
move. Use your This makes her a very powerful piece.
chess set and
board to try the
moves shown in
the pictures.

The queen cannot jump over other

pieces,-though. If a piece from her
own army is in the way, the queen
cannot go any fa1ther.

The queen must stop on this

Each player has one queen. The queen
is the most important and valuable
piece in your army except for the king.
square as a pawn is in her way.
If there is an enemy piece in the way,
the queen can capture it. You can
learn how to capture on the next page.

6 vk.com/readinglecture
 Capturing Taking prisoners
Any one of your pieces can
capture any one piece from
the other army, as long as
it's your turn and you move
according to the rules.

Here the White queen is The Black knight cannot take

capturing the Black knight. part in the game any more.

To capture an enemy piece The captured piece is then

you have to land on its taken off the board. It
square with one of your cannot be used for the rest Try to capture as many
own pieces. of the game. enemy pi~ces as you can.
This will weaken their
army and make it easier for
Puzzles you to attack their king.

Mad queens
The queen was not used
in chess until 1475. At
first people thought the
new game was silly ~!_ld
called it the "mad queen"
version . But they soon

[[]The Black queen can llJWhich pieces could

realized it was a more
exciting game. ~~/i1

~i'., j\ U
l..
' :-:l '
~-" ......'~--~.,
<,d

... 1.rt~
11\' ~
fkf;-kff , ,,
. r~~ .
~ !;.,. ~t
~ (.
r ). ;,:.'-
,. ). .~ '..
l:
'\._
/ , ..
" ....

capture one of the White each queen capture

"
'-;.{ . "( ,,~.../' . ,7 /
pawns on her next
move. Which one is it?
here? Remember how
queens move.
...... . \ "" ,.,
'"\\;,\"'f.!\.~,
;t
\ " ;:;r
t'11.
-
'

l
.

/
' j

- - ,n-t-er,_n_e_t -lin- k- Fo_r_a- l1-nk

- to_a_w
_e_b-sit_e_w_h_el'_e_y-o u_ c_a_n-pl-ay_ a_ g._a_m_e _o_f c-h-es-s-aga L i~2\
- ins-t-th_e_R_e_d_Q_u-ee_n_, - - - - --..\ i-
', - _--7......,
a character in the story "Alice Through the Looking Glass", go to www.usborne-quicklinks.com
1 -( , -r:. }]'\
 et] The pawns
There are eight pawns in Diagonal capture
each army. They are your A pawn is the only piece
least valuable that moves differently
pieces. when it is capturing. It
moves one square J .
diagonally forward instead<~ _ -~)
of straight forward. ---------

Puzzles

How pawns move Here a White pawn captures a

Pawns move forward in a Black pawn.
!!]The White pawn can
straight line, one square at capture only one of
''.
a time. these Black pieces.
Which one is it?

A pawn's first move is

special. For this turn only, !!]This pawn can capture
either of two pieces.
you can move it two
squares forward if you like. Which are they?

8 Find out more: Capturing - p. 7

Promoting pawns
If one of your pawns
reaches the other side of
the board, you can change
it into any other piece you
like, except for the king.
It's usually best to make your Different styles
pawn a queen, because she
is the most powerful piece.
You can do this even if your
real queen is on the board.

In this American chess

set, the pieces all look
like baseball players.
The pawns are the
fielders.

If your queen has already If a rook has been If a pawn has been taken,
been captured, you can put captured, you could .s tand put two pawns together on
her back on the board it on its head to represent one square, and move them
instead of the pawn. your new queen. as if they were one piece.

Internet link For a link to a website where you can take a virtual tour of a chess museum
and see chess sets made of wood, stone and metal, go to www.usborne-quicklinks.com
A :first game
You can play your first
game of chess with just the
pawns, the kings and the
queens. Read the labels,
then set the pieces out
correctly on the board.
Rules and tactics
Each player takes a turn
moving one piece each.
White always starts. This
can be helpful, so change
Remember to put
the White queen
on a pale square.
armies if you play again. If
you touch a piece, you have
to move it, so think carefully
before you take your turn.
Your goal is to checkmate
the enemy king. To help do
this, try to capture your
enemy's pieces.
Remember that queens are
more valuable than pawns.
So don't use your queen to
capture a pawn if it will
put her at risk.
Find out more: Checkmate - p.10 Capturing- p.7 Promoting pawns - p.9
Quick reminders
ITJ Pawns move straight
forward, one square at a
time. On their first move,
though, they can move
two squares.
[I] Pawns capture by .
moving one square
diagonally forward.
[[] If a pawn reaches the
far side of the board, you
can promote it.
Make sure there is a Teamwork
white square in the
right-hand corner
Try to think of your pieces as a ;:: :
nearest each player. team. They can help p rotect eachA~ - 1 - V-
other if they work together.
Remember to put the
Black queen on a dark
square. If one of your pieces is block the attack by moving
being attacked, you can another piece into the way.

.AL
I

..
~

White's king is in check. White The White queen is attacking the

moves his pawn to block the Black queen. A Black pawn
check and attack the Black queen. blocks the attack.

You can use one piece to that if your piece was

"cover" another piece. The taken, it could in turn
[iJ The queen can move in covering piece is placed so capture the enemy piece.
any direction, for as many
squares as she likes.

The Black king is attacking the In this game both players have
White pawn. White moves all their remaining pawns
another pawn to cover it. covered.

Internet link For a link to a website where you can play on fine games with 13
kings and pawns, go to www.usborne-quicklinks.com
 [I] The rooks .:~~
~-
. ---~-v ....---- - -----,
~ l~I,
1
There are two rooks in
each army. Apart from the Nobody knows
queens, they are your most Nobody is sure where
valuable pieces. ~ 1 the English word "rook"
~-- -- comes from. Some think
i ;. - ~~)
r it is from an old Persian
[{J
f
t...rl...n., l
_J [ __ _,_
word "rukh", meaning
~--:;:.l
1, - 1,
(...) ,.
,~. --
l,-
:.
L .._ . _J
war chariot. Others
,'-:;: :' \,; Id think it comes from the
/ ;.: : <
-: ::rz.J-t:.f...,,,...
:;:;~,:'.\. :. . / '. ~.\ i/ .. 1

Italian word "rocco"
1Ji'
' If ---..~~ u
' \k k which means tower.
'
,..-~
L. j .___, ,1~-w
t~.h:i.:
.; '' ' '

~-
I .'", ;\ H
~ .'-\
..f'-JLm_.rL1~":.r,ir
I
'
!d
,.....
, ,.,
.1
i.j.

1. '
> \~;I '.\
i !
'l' Rooks are sometimes
! ,\ I
I! :~\
, I!1
f
called castles, because
,,; I
. '\.; they look like castle
\'_ .... 't. towers.
'"
'--.::~-=---~-= ~--

How rooks move

A rook moves in straight A rook can move as many A rook can be very
lines along the ranks and squares as it likes in a powerful. It can control a
files. It cannot move straight line, as long as it whole file and a whole
diagonally. is not blocked. rank at the same time.

14 Find out more: Covering - p.13 Promoting pawns - p.9 Capturing p.7
 l
,,_3
,,___

..,-.,_ .
-~. '
-~~
-
""""''-' "
Protectors A game with rooks
Rooks are good at protecting You can play a
other pieces. They are very game with just the
useful for covering pawns pawns, rooks, king
w hich are trying to get to and queen.
the other side of the board
to be promoted.

Rooks are
stronger later
in the game, so don't
move them too soon.

Rooks work best in open

If the Black queen captures the ranks and files, so when you
advancing pawn, she will be do move them, don't let them
captured by the White rook. get blocked by other pieces.

Puzzles

[[]Which pieces could the Cil Can the White rook [!]Which pieces is the
White rook capture on this capture any piece without Black rook covering in
board? being taken by a p awn? this game?

Internet link For a link to a website where you can learn how rooks move,
go to www.usborne-quicklinks.com
15
 Exchanges.
Sometimes you cannot
capture an enemy piece A bad swap
w ithout losing one of your Here the White queen
own. This is called an can capture the Black
exchange or a swap. An knight, but she w ould
exchange can be either then be captured by a
good, bad or fair, Black pawn. White should
depending on which not make this swap
pieces are swapped and because he takes a piece
how powerful and worth three points, but
valuable they are. loses a piece worth nine.

Points
To help you decide if a
swap is good or bad, the
, pieces are given points.
These help you remember
how powerful and useful
each one is.
r l I Pawn: 1 point

[i Knight*: 3 points
j

[1!J Bishop*: 3 points

llJ Rook: 5 points

f'ii'J Queen: 9 points

I*] King: O points

-~

These points are used only

as a guide. There is no
scoring in chess.

~ It is bad swap if you . -~

lf~ the Black queen (9) takes the

lose a piece that is worth White rook (5), she will be taken by
more than the one you take. the White pawn. This is a bad swap.

16 Find out more: Capturing - p. 7 Find out how knights and bis hopi> move on pages 20-23
_is a good swap if
capture a piece that Puzzle
more valuable than [[]In each of these
one you lose. JI games below, a White
(i) piece is capturing a
Black piece, only to be
captured itself. In which
game is White making a
good swap.

If the White pawn (1) takes the Black

knight (3), it will be captured by the Black
rook. This is a good swap.

- - a fair swap,
- lose a piece
_;:same
- as the
~U

The king has no points.

This is because he
is never actually
captured and so
!! knight (3) takes the
- p (3), it will be taken by can never be
pawn. This is a fair swap. exchanged.

l'Df' a link to a website about the value of 17

iece. go to www.usborne-quicklinks.com
 [I] The knights
Each player has two How knights move
knights. They are the
pieces that look like
horses. This is because
in old-fashioned armies
knights were the
soldiers that
fought on
horseback.

A knight can move in any

direction: forward, . backward
or to the sides. It always
moves in an L-shape: two
squares in a straight line
and then one to the side.

Jumping
.( .

Because the knight can

jump, it cannot be
blocked in. This is
This Black knight can escape
especially useful when from the attacking White pawn
the board is crowded. onto one of 5 safe squares.

18 Find out more: Capturing - p.7 Covering- p.13

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 How knights capture and protect
A knight can only captilre A knight is strongest in the
the piece that is on the square middle of the board. Here
it lands on. It cannot capture it can cover several of your
a piece just by jumping own pieces and attack your
over it. / . ~ enemy's all at the same time.

*
l l

The Black knight is attacking the
White rook and covering the
Black bishop and queen.
Early start
Knights are useful at the
start of a game. They can
jump into the middle of the
board even when there are
pawns in front of them. It is
good to get powerful pieces
in the middle early on.

Puzzles
Knights of yore
This is a picture of a
knight from the oldest
complete chess set in
the world. It was made
nearly 900 years ago.
The knight doesn't look
very happy does he?
1'.. ! ,
1 --"'1:1"'
/ r~..- ~ ~j

f':e;~-)
he White knight can [[!White's king is in check If -..
<
J. l, .b
i"~Jt.:._r-r.
-', -
pe eapture by moving from Black's queen. In how ""'- -
I
}~

-----;IL 'i. JI---

~ --
oly one square. Which many ways can the White
ere should it move to? knight block this check?
~--~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---t ; . ' '
.=9_,. ' 'le For a link to a website where you can find an on/ine guide
- - ht moves, go to www.usborne-quicklinks.com
19
[1[1 The bishops
The two bishops start the
game on either side of the How bishops move Capturing trick
king and queen. If you have the chance,
position a bishop so
that it is attacking two
enemy pieces at the
same time. This is
\
1
called a forkc.
, I
:- I
,,-- 'ii
f-YJ.:~ -f
~ 71"'!-~ ~n"
1 ,_. r1
~~ ::.)\
// ~. w .r {'-.,

A bishop moves diagonally l ,.,/;~~At;:,

backward and forward. It
can move as many squares
at a time as it likes, but it
cannot jump over pieces.

Helpful hint
One of the bishops moves
diagonally on the
dark squares and
the other on the
light squares.

This means that each The White bishop is

bishop can only capture attacking the Black king and
enemy pieces on the same queen. Black must move her
king and lose her queen.
kind of square as itself.

Find out more: Capturing - p. 7

Puzzles

------ *

_Can the White bishop
_'1tur any of the pieces
-: this board?
Into battle
ow you can try a game
smg all your pieces. Plan
llhead as much as possible,
don't make a final
rision on what to move
etore it is your turn. Your
nent's move may
a:mge your mind.
IT] On this board, which IT]White's bjshop has the
bishop, Black or White, is rook and knight in a fork.
attacking in a fork? What's Black's best move?
Elephants on the
Look at all the pieces on
the board. Then ask
chess board
yourself four questions: Old Indian chess sets
[!] Ase all my pieces
defended, especially
the king?
0 Can any of my
pieces be captured?

lIJ Can I capture an

enemy piece, and will
it be safe if I do?

[!] Can I figure out

what the other player
is planning?
"'~ ~ .. You are a little like a general
>;- , directing your troops.
;:;. '
' Internet link For a link to a w ebsite about the bishop,~"-.........._ . . 21
go to www.usborne-quicklinks.com ~
 ~~~~~j~~~-
Sp e ci a1 trioves //, ; J'
Here are two special moves , t.0__ '~
. '
Why castle?
you can use to help protect yAfter castling, the king is
your own pieces and attack tucked away in a corner, so
your opponents'. he is easier to protect. But
the rook has more space,
Castling so it can attack more easily.
This is a move for the king and one rook. It is most useful to castle
It is the only time you can move two early in the game.
pieces in one turn.

.. To castle on the kingside, To castle on the Puzzle

move the king two squares queenside, move the king
II!Can Black or White
toward the rook, and the two squares toward the
rook, and the rook three castle in this game? If so,
rook moves two squares
on which side (kingside
the other way. squares the other way.
or queenside)? Use the
Castling is the only time the king can checklist on page 23.
move two squares at once. After you have
castled, the king and the rook always end
up next to each other.

Find out more: Kingside - p.5 Queenside - p.5 Check- p.10 Capturing ~ p.7

Castling checklist
There are four things you need to check
before you castle:
[!] There must be no pieces
in the way between the
king and the rook.
Neither army can castle because
there are pieces between each
king and rook.
WThe king must not be in
check before or after you
castle.
Black cannot castle here
because her king is in check
from the White bishop.
Internet link For a link to a website where you can learn lots of chess words and find
out more about castling and en passant moves, go to www.usborne-quicklinks.com
En passant
En passant (say on
passon) means "in
passing". It is a special
move using a pawn.
Here Black can castle on the After a pawn has moved
kingside. White has already two squares as its first
moved his king so cannot.
move, an enemy pawn
can capture it as if it
had moved only one.
The White pawn can now
White cannot castle as his king capture the Black pawn
would be iri check from the using the en passant rule.
Black bishop during the move.
23
 Opening inoves and tricks
The first moves you make in a game are Pawns .first
very important. They can put you in a weak You could move the two
or a strong position for the rest of the game. middle pawns as your first

~~~ f~
two turns. This helps you
control the middle of the
~- .~~~~)~~ board. It also clears the
f&r:;T-:0 . ~,~;-.
<;:% }r?,:kl. { . ~r ...
!{~ ,.c.~~V-' . \ :)

i. ;;~:~
/''
G~7~~"'
..(~/:~."----
' . '1
,_f,{T . .\ ---;:;/
j \
) '
~>-~} --~-,...

The most useful pieces early
in a game are usually the
pawns, bishops and. knights.
..
If you use the queen too
early in the game you
might put her in danger. Moving a side pawn is not
as useful. It doesn't help
you control the middle and
traps stronger pieces on
the back rank.

The rooks are more useful Look after the king

White has not made a good start
later when there are fewer carefully right from the here, but Black has, clearing the
pieces left on the board. beginning. way for her bishops.

24 Find out more: Castling - p.22 Capturing - p. 7 Attacking in a fork - p.20

 Grains of truth
There are more possible
games of chess than
there are grains of sand
in the whole world.

At the edge of the board, bishops

can move to only 7 squares. In
the middle, they can move to 13.

Capturing tricks
Once you have pieces in the middle of the board, ffiJ. _
try some tricks to help capture enemy pieces. ~
l/._,_j .....
One trick is a fork. One A skewer forces a valuable A pin is an .attack on a piece
piece attacks two enemy piece to move so a less which is protecting a piece
pieces at the same time. valuable piece is captured. more valuable than itself.

The White knight is attacking the White's rook is attacking Black's Black's knight can't escape from
queen and the rook. If either piece queen. The queen must move, White's attack because this would
moves, the other will be captured. so the Black rook is captured. put the Black queen at risk.

Internet link For a link to a website where you can find an online guide to
opening moves and try some quizzes, go to www.usborne-ql.Jicklinks.com
25
 Writing chess down
There is a code for writing down chess
moves, called notation. Once you can read
it, you can follow games in books and
magazines. This is very good practice.

Most people use algebraic The letters and numbers

notation. It uses letters and are plotted as if you are
numbers for the pieces and playing as White, so the
. the squares on the board. board looks like this.

8 h8
7 g7 A helpful hint
Put a large piece of
6 f6 paper under your chess
board, and write the
letters and numbers
5 e5 around the edge.

...: ... 4
3 c3
2 b2
1 RA K

a b c d e f g

Each rank has a number, White's left. Each square To find square e6,
starting with the rank on the board is identified follow file e and rank 6.
closest to White. Each by the letter of the file it is The square where they
file is given a small letter, in, and the number of the meet is e6.
starting with the file on rank it is in.
'
26 Internet link For a link to a website with an online activity to help
you learn chess notation, go to www.usborne-quicklinks.com
Pieces and moves
The pieces are coded as piece, then the letter and Making it clear
capital letters, except for the number of the square it It may not always be
pawn which has no symbol. moves to. For a pawn, just clear which piece is
To write down a move, write the letter and number moving, so sometimes
you put the letter of the of the square it moves to. the file or rank that a
piece is on is given too,
fAl
!W! K" . K
mg1s llJ Rook is R [!] Bishop is B to help identify it.

~ QueenisQ j l I Pawn has no letter j t j Knight is N

The move Ne6 could be

made by both White knights.
Nce6 tells you it is the knight
on the c-file that is moving.

Puzzle
IT! How would you
write down the move
on this board, using
notation?

This move is Ne4. This move is a3.

Find out more about writing chess down on the next page. 27
 White :first Capturing Check and
When a game is written up, When one piece captures
the moves are numbered. another, write the letter for checkmate
the piece (unless the
capturing piece is a pawn),
then x , and then the letter
and number of the square
it moves to.

If a move gives check,

a plus sign like this + is
written after it.

If Black's move is written

without White's, dots are
printed.after the move
number. So 8 ...Kd6 means
for her eighth move Black The White rook capturing the
moved her king to d6. Bishop is written Rxc6.

This move is Re7+.

If a move gives
checkmate, two plus
signs are written after it.

If you castle on the If you castle on the

kingside, you write queenside, you write
down 0-0. down 0-0-0. This move is Og2++.

28 Find out more: Capturing - p.7 Castling - p.22 Kingside - p.5 Queenside - p.5 Ch eck- p.10 Ch eckmate - p.10
The end of a gaine
In the shortest game of
chess, Black can checkmate
White in only two moves.
But many games go on Puzzle
until hardly any pieces are 0 White is in trouble.
left on the board at all. Can he avoid losing by
forcing a draw?

1.f3, e5; 2.g4, Qh4++ Black's rook checkmates White.

~l, ~
Drawn games \<J~/if~~- i 0
A game is drawn if no player
c~ec~ate. There are
give
t~o
mam sorts of \
~an
: '.
l~~~J~~~.};-~
w:\

\S\'t.\t:~r1\R-~.
. :
diaw. stalemate and pe1petual check. :ay~~).t~t'j ,
Stalemate is when a player In perpetual check, one If this
isn't in check, but cannot player keeps putting the is repeated
make any move that is other in check, but can three times, the
allowed. never achieve checkmate. game ends in a draw.

It is White's turn to move, but White moves Kh2 to escape White has to move back to g1
the only moves he can make check. Black moves Qh4+, where Black can put him in
would put his king in check. putting White in check again. check once more.

anternet link For a link to a website where you can see how different checkmates 29
- 'Tappen, go co www.usborne-quicklinks.com
 Puzzle answers
The queen - p. 7 p.8 continued Exchanges - p.17
The White pawn could White is making a good
capture either the Black swap in the top game, where
knight or the Black bishop. he is capturing a queen (9
points) and losing a rook (5
points). In the bottom
The king - p.11 game, White is making a
It is checkmate. bad swap. He is capturing
The king cannot move a pawn (1 point) but losing
onto a safe square. (If he a bishop (3 points).
moves one square to the
left, he is in check from
the Black pawn, if he The knights - p.19
moves diagonally forward,
he is still in check from
-!II
the Black queen.) There is 1
no White piece which can
block the check, and the
Black queen cannot be
captured.

The rooks - p.15

The White rook could
capture either the Black
queen or the Black bishop. White's knight can block
The pawns -.p.8 check in two w ays:
Yes. The White rook can
capture the Black bishop to
its right, w ithout being
taken by a Black pawn.
\

The Black rook is covering

the bishop, which is under
attack from the White
queen, and the knight
which is under attack from
the White rook.

30
The bishops - p.21 the kingside , but not on
the queenside where the
Useful addresses
rook has already moved.
United States Chess
Federation
Writing chess down 186 Route 9 W
-p.27 New Windsor
This move is written as Be4. NY 12553
USA
The end of a game
- p. 29
If White's queen was off The Chess Federation
the board, the game would of Canada
The White bishop is
end in stalemate. (The 2212 Gladwin Crescent E-1
attacking in a fork.
White king could not move Ottawa
If the Black rook moves to without putting himself in Ontario KlB 5Nl
the left-hand corner of the check}. Therefore, in order Canada
board, it escapes being to get a draw, White has to
captured and covers the force Black to capture his
attacked Black knight: queen.
White's queen moves to New Zealand Chess
g7 and captures Black's Federation
pawn. This puts the Black P.O. Box 3130
king in check. To escape Wellington
check the Black king has to New Zealand
capture the queen.

British Chess
Federation
9A Grand Parade
St Leonard's on Sea
Special moves - p.22 East Sussex
White cannot castle on
TN38 ODD
either side because his king
is in check from the Black
knight. Black can castle on

Internet link For a link to a website where you can solve lots of chess puzzles, 31
go to www.usborne-quicklinks.com
Index
algebraic notation , 26-28 defending and protecting, paw ns, 3, 4, 8-9, 12, 15, 16,
attacking, 5, 13, 22, 25 11 , 13, 15, 21, 22, 25 17
diagonals, 5 and en passant rule, 23
bishops, 3, 4, 16, 17, 20-21 draws, 29 and opening moves, 24
and opening moves, 24, in notation, 27
25 ele phants, 21 promoting, 9, 12, 15
in notation, 27 end of a game, 29 perpetual check, 29
blocking, 11 , 13 en p assant rule, 23 pin, 25
exchanges, 16-17 points, 16, 17
capturing, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 , protecting (see defending
12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, files, 5, 14, 15 and p rotecting)
21 , 23, 25 , in notation, 26, 27
in notatio n , 28 fork , 20, 21 , 25 qu eens, 3, 4, 6-7, 9~ 12, 13,
castles (see also rooks), 14 jumping, 18, 19 15, 16
castling, 22-23, 25 in notation, 27
in notation , 28 kings, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10-11, queenside, 5
check, 10, 13, 23 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 21 and castling, 22-23, 28
escaping from , 11 and castling, 22-23, 25
in notation , 28 and opening moves, 24, ranks, 5, 14, 15, 24
perpetual, 29 25 in notation, 26, 27
che cking piece, 10 in notation, 27 rooks, 3, 4, 9, 14-15
checkmate, 5, 10, 11 ,12 kingside, 5 and castling, 22-23
in notation, 28 and castling, 22-23, 28 in notation, 27
chess board, 3, 4, 5, 26 knights, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18-19
chess set, 3, 6 and opening moves, 24, skewer, 25
American , 9 25 stalemate, 29
old Indian , 21 in notation, 27 swap s, 16-1 7
oldest complete, 19
covering, 13, 15, 19 notation , 26-28 World Chess Federation, 22

First published in 1995 by Usborne Publishing Ltd, 83-85 Saffro n Hill, London EC IN 8RT, England . www.usborne.com
Copyright 200 I, 1995 Usborne Publishing Ltd. First published in America in 1995. This edition publ ished in America in 2002.The
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 Starting Chess is an inspiring introduction for complete beginners.
It covers everything young pl.ayer needs to know, from how to set
GJ
out the pieces to special moves and tactics. Lively illustrations of
snooty queens, cheeky pawns and wise old kings bring the
game to life, while simple diagrams make examples and puzzles
clear and easy to follow. This new Internet-linked edition also contains
descriptions of fun and informative chess Web sites to visit.

Usborne Quicklinks
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