Meet the Board

Part of the Fundamentals section of Coddy's Chess journey. Lesson 1 of 46.

Sixty-four squares, light and dark, eight by eight. Before any piece moves, learn the board itself. White sits at the bottom of every board here, Black at the top.

Try it yourselfBeginner

Position 1 of 6

FindTap any dark square.

All 6 positions

All lessons in Fundamentals

1The Board

Meet the BoardFiles 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 Centre Get Your Pieces Out Castle Early The Scholar's Mate Project: The Opening