Board and starting position
The bottom-right square is light. Files run vertically, ranks horizontally and diagonals at an angle.
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First steps
Your first moves
Six pieces, many little discoveries. Learn their moves and try them in three learning games – with Kinglet by your side.
Three steps
- The ideaA few sentences on what the lesson is about.
- Show mePlay through an example move by move. Kinglet explains every move.
- PracticeExamine positions, answer questions on the board, or play to the stated goal.
Board and basic rules
2 lessons
Meet the pieces
6 lessons
The rook · straight ahead
Move in straight lines, spot blockers and capture your first piece.
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The bishop · across the diagonals
Discover diagonals, your bishop’s colour and open paths.
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The queen · straight and diagonal
Combine the rook’s and bishop’s paths in one piece.
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The knight · around the corner
Discover the L-shaped jump. Other pieces may stand in the way!
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The king · one safe step
Explore its neighbouring squares and learn why safety comes first.
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The pawn · forward into adventure
Move straight, capture diagonally and discover the double step.
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Attacks and exchanges
2 lessonsAttacking and defending
A piece attacks an enemy target if it could capture it. A defender can recapture after a capture, provided its own king remains safe.
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Piece values and exchanges
Guidelines: pawn 1, knight and bishop about 3, rook 5, queen 9. The king has no exchange value.
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Special moves and game endings
5 lessonsCastling
When castling, the king moves two squares towards the rook. The rook moves beside the king towards the centre.
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En passant
If a pawn moves two squares from its starting rank and lands beside an enemy pawn, that pawn may capture it as if it had moved one square.
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Promotion
A pawn reaching the last rank is immediately replaced by a queen, rook, bishop or knight of the same colour.
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Check, mate and game endings
In check, save the king by moving it, capturing the attacker or blocking the attack. Kings are never captured. With no legal answer it is mate; without check and without a legal move it is stalemate.
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Understanding draws
Threefold repetition and 50 moves without a pawn move or capture allow a claim. Fivefold repetition and 75 moves end the game automatically; mate on the last move takes precedence.
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First learning games
3 lessonsPawn race · to the finish
A little learning game with one big goal: reach the last rank first.
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Pawn race · with extras
A quick start and a special capture: the double step and en passant.
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Queen versus pawns · catch them
Use your queen’s reach and stop the pawns in time.
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Also fits here
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