Beginner Guides

Step-by-step starting points for new players, written and formatted for reading on a phone.

A hand-carved wooden chess knight standing on a plain sand-coloured surface, warm directional light from the left, a soft long shadow and plenty of.
Beginner Guides

How to Read Chess Notation Without Getting Lost

Learn the files, ranks and symbols behind algebraic notation, then use them to follow games, record your moves and feel at home at...

A warm natural-light photograph of an African-designed wooden chess set on a plain warm background, with a few pieces arranged to suggest a beginner.
Beginner GuidesShows

How the Chess Pieces Move: A Beginner’s Guide

Learn how every chess piece moves and captures, from pawn basics to castling, en passant and promotion, with board setup, values and practice...