Essentials

Rules: How to Play
Learn to play chess. How to set up a chess board, move the pieces, castle, capture, checkmate, and more. The rules of chess.

Tools: Basic Concepts
The tools of chess. Learn to play chess. Here's what every chess player should know -- chess notation, draws, the relative value of the pieces, the phases of the game, tactical play, and more. Basic knowledge to get started on the winner's path.

Guide to the Six Pieces
The rules of chess start with the moves of the six different pieces. Click on any piece in our image gallery to learn more about its moves and its powers.

All About Openings
Your first task in a chess game is to get a good position. To do that you need to know something about the openings. Here are variations, names, and more.

How to Win
You have survived the opening with a playable game. Now what? • Most games are won in the middle game, where your imagination is your ally. • To become a better player, improve your endgame. The most difficult positions can have the fewest pieces.

Frequently Asked Chess Questions (FAQ)
As Chess Guide, we have a good idea what's on your mind. Have a question? Look here for the answer. Sometimes you'll find a fact, sometimes an opinion. If you can't find your question, send us an email. Your question might be a new FAQ!

Chess Glossary
Confused about the various acronyms and terms used in chess? Check the glossary for definitions.

Chess Bibliography
There have been more books written about chess than about any other game. See our list of recommended classics especially chosen for the beginning and intermediate player.

Chess Champions
Our guide to the champions -- Famous players, World Champions, and Winners of national championships.

A to Z List of All Resource Categories
About Chess is a big site that grows constantly. Here is an alphabetical list of all categories listed under 'Articles & Resources' in the left hand column of every page on the site.