Control the Centre

Part of the Fundamentals section of Coddy's Chess journey. Lesson 42 of 46.

Chess is written down: 1. e4 e5 means White then Black. Pieces get a letter (N, B, R, Q, K), x is a capture, + check, # mate. And the whole opening is a fight for four squares: the centre.

Try it yourselfBeginner

Position 1 of 8

WatchThe crossroads of the board.

All 8 positions

All lessons in Fundamentals

1The Board

Meet the Board Files and Ranks Naming Squares Setting Up Recap: The Board

4The King and the Pawn

The King The Pawn Pawn Captures The First Double Step Recap: King and Pawn

7Special Moves

Castling When You Cannot Castle Promotion En Passant Recap: Special Moves

2The Sliding Pieces

The Rook The Bishop The Queen Blocked Paths Recap: Sliding Pieces

5Captures and Check

How Captures Work What Pieces Are Worth Check Three Ways Out Moves You Cannot Play Recap: Check

8Writing Moves Down

Reading Moves Takes, Check and Mate Which Knight?Reading a Game Recap: Written Moves

3The Knight

The Knight's Jump Jumping Over Pieces Knights on the Rim Recap: The Knight

6Checkmate and Draws

Checkmate The Back Rank Mate With Two Rooks Stalemate Other Draws Recap: Checkmate

9Your First Game

Control the CentreGet Your Pieces Out Castle Early The Scholar's Mate Project: The Opening