By this point you have learned how the pieces move and where they belong at the genesis of each game. For the most part, you are ready to play. Several other rules exist, however.
The First Move Belongs to White
The white side always moves first. So, based on the knowledge of how each piece can move and where they are set up to start the game, what are the possible first turn moves? You can move each of your eight pawns one or two spaces forward. Can you use any of the other pieces? Remember, only one piece can occupy each space. It would seem you are destined to move a pawn on move one. But do not forget your knights! They are able to jump pieces in the way of their final destination. Hence, you can utilize your mates-on-horses for move one. They can jump the row of pawns to the third row and then one spot left or right. After move one by white, black makes his or her first move and the game is on!
Check!
As you make moves in the game you might move to a spot where, on the next turn, that piece would be able to capture the king. For instance, you could move a bishop to a space where the king rests three spots away diagonally. If this occurs, it is called "check." If a king is "checked" it is in danger. Therefore, the person whose king is in peril must either move the king or block the piece with another one of his or her available pieces. He or she cannot move another piece until he or she has resolved the "checking" situation.
Checkmate!
The object of the game is to capture the other person's king, but in reality you never get to capture the king. To win a game of chess you must put the opposite king in what is called "checkmate." As we found out before, a king is in check when it is being directly attacked. Essentially, checkmate is the situation in which a king cannot move out of check. For example, if you have a king in check from one piece, but the spaces to which it can move would also put the king in check, then you have just checkmated your opponent. The game is yours! If no space exists to where the king can move to be out of a checked position, the game is over.
Promotion
If you are a sly player and manage to move one of your pawns to the opposite back row, all the way to the other side of the board, you can promote your pawn to a more powerful piece. Most times people will make their pawn a queen. If your queen is still in the game, you can have two queens! Simply designate another captured piece as the new queen by turning it upside down or be creative and come up with some other way of designating your new lady. You can promote your pawn to any piece you like, but remember the queen is the most powerful type.
Stalemate
You might think that it is always good to put pressure on the other player's king. However, if a player's king is not in check, but has no possible space to which it might move and NOT be in check, the king is "stalemated." If a stalemate occurs, you do not win the game. In fact, the game is ended in a draw. Try to avoid these situations by smartly attacking your opponent's king.