Chess Rules

A 2-player abstract strategy classic on an 8x8 board with six piece types (K, Q, R, B, N, P). Every legal move must not leave your king in check.

• King (♔): 1 square in any direction. Must never be captured.
• Queen (♕): any number of squares orthogonally or diagonally.
• Rook (♖): any number of squares horizontally or vertically.
• Bishop (♗): any number of squares diagonally.
• Knight (♘): L-shape (2+1). May jump over other pieces.
• Pawn (♙): 1 square forward (2 on its first move). Captures diagonally only.

• Castling: If neither the king nor the chosen rook has moved and the squares between them are empty, the king moves two squares toward the rook and the rook hops to its other side. Not allowed while in check or if the king's path passes through an attacked square.
• En passant: If an enemy pawn double-steps past one of your pawns, you may capture it diagonally on your very next move (only).
• Promotion: When a pawn reaches the last rank, promote it to a Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight.

• Checkmate the opponent's king (no legal escape) — win.
• Resign — instant loss.
• Stalemate (no legal move and not in check) — draw.
• Insufficient material (K vs K, K+B vs K, K+N vs K, K+B vs K+B same-colored bishops) — draw.
• Threefold repetition (same position appearing 3 times) — draw.
• 50-move rule (no pawn move or capture in 100 half-moves) or agreement — draw.