How to Play Chess
2 players · 16 pieces each · 8 × 8 board
Goal
Checkmate your opponent's king: attack it so that it cannot escape. White moves first, then the players alternate, one move each.
The pieces
The king moves one square in any direction. The queen moves any distance in a straight line or diagonally. The rook moves in straight lines, the bishop diagonally, and the knight in an L shape — it is the only piece that jumps. Pawns move one square forward (two from their starting square) and capture diagonally.
Special moves
Castling: the king moves two squares towards a rook, which jumps over it — only if neither has moved, the squares between them are empty, and the king is not in check and does not pass through or land on an attacked square. En passant: a pawn that advances two squares to stand beside an enemy pawn can be captured as if it had moved one. Promotion: a pawn reaching the last rank becomes a queen, rook, bishop or knight of your choice.
Check
You may never leave your own king in check. When it is attacked you must move it, block the attack or capture the attacker.
Draws
The game is drawn automatically by stalemate (no legal move, but not in check), by insufficient material to checkmate, when the same position occurs three times, or after 50 moves each without a capture or a pawn move. You may also offer a draw, which your opponent accepts or declines.
The clock
The host may choose a clock: minutes each plus seconds added after every move. Running out of time loses — unless your opponent has only their king left, which is a draw. You may resign at any time.
Scoring
Every game is a match of its own (best of one): a win is worth 1 point, a draw ½. Games between accounts count for the chess rating; games with a bot are practice. Colours are drawn for the first game and alternate after that.