Most of us were taught how to play chess during childhood. But at some point, we stopped practicing. Between personal responsibilities and professional obligations, chess took a back seat.

However, that soon changed once Netflix released The Queen’s Gambit – a show about an exceptionally talented female chess player. It was reported to have increased public interest in the game as well as the sales of chessboards.

So, regardless of whether you’re a beginner or long-term player, let’s go over the basics of the game one more time. Then, once you’ve polished your skills, you can play chess online game with friends at Play County.

The Setup

An eight-by-eight squared chessboard is placed between two players at the beginning of the game. It consists of 64 squares that have dark and light colors – usually black and white. The right way to set up the chessboard is to ensure the last row (commonly known as rank) starts from a dark square and ends on a light one.

The chess pieces are placed on two horizontal ranks closest to the players. Rooks, knights, bishops – two of each – occupy the first row, while the king and queen sit at the central squares of the board. On the other hand, the second rank (from the players’ perspective) consists of eight pawns, each sitting on a single square.

The rows are marked from A to H, and the columns (commonly known as files) are marked from 1-8.

How The Pieces Move

• Pawns can only move one square forward, except the first time, where they can move two squares forward.
• Rooks can move as many squares as they want, but only across their ranks and files.
• Knights can move two squares in one direction and one more at a 90-degree angle, making it look like an L shape.
• Bishops can move as many squares as they want, but only diagonally.
• The King can only move one square, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
• The Queen can move as many squares as it wants, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Ways To End the Game

• Checkmate
• Forfeit
• Draw

Ready To Play?

At Play County, you can stimulate the neurons in your brain by instantly playing chess for free. We give you the option to play against a friend, an AI, or even yourself. No matter your opponent, always remember that chess is all about carefully planning your next move. So, choose wisely. Happy playing!