Chess rules · beginner
Capturing and Chess Piece Values
Move onto an enemy piece to capture it. Collect every black pawn with your queen.
touch_appLearn it by doing: read the short explanation, then play it on the board.
The rule
You capture by moving your piece onto a square occupied by an enemy piece. The captured piece is removed from the board. You can never capture your own pieces.
Piece values (in pawns): • Pawn = 1 • Knight = 3 • Bishop = 3 • Rook = 5 • Queen = 9 The king can't be traded: losing him loses the game.
Use the values to decide trades. Giving a knight (3) for a rook (5) is a good deal. Giving your queen (9) for a rook (5) is a bad one.
A piece is 'hanging' when it is attacked and nothing defends it: the opponent can simply take it. Before every move, ask: which of their pieces are undefended?
Practise it
- Capturing: Move onto an enemy piece to capture it. Collect every black pawn with your queen.
- What pieces are worth: Trade wisely: know the value of each piece.
- Spot the free piece: A piece that's attacked and not defended can be captured for free.
Check yourself
Which is worth more?add
A rook. Rook 5, bishop 3.
A queen is worth about how many pawns?add
9. About 9 pawns, the most valuable piece.
You can trade your knight for the opponent's rook. Good idea?add
Yes, I win material. You give 3 and get 5: a gain of 2 pawns (called 'winning the exchange').
Two bishops versus one rook: who has more material?add
Two bishops (6). 3 + 3 = 6, more than the rook's 5.
White to move. Tap the black piece you can capture for free.add
d5. The knight on d5 is attacked by your rook and nothing defends it: Rxd5 wins a knight.
Tap the black piece you can win for free.add
f6. Your knight on d5 can jump to f6, and nothing defends the bishop there: Nxf6 wins it.
Which black piece is hanging? Tap it.add
c8. Your queen on c2 attacks the rook on c8 up the c-file, and nothing defends it.
Tips
- Capture in an order where each capture lines up the next.
- Pawn 1, knight 3, bishop 3, rook 5, queen 9.
- Look for black pieces your pieces attack where no black piece can recapture.