Start from zero: the 64 squares, files and ranks, how every square gets its name, and where each piece stands at the start of a game. This is a basics course with 3 lessons and 13 interactive exercises, suited to players rated around 100 (complete beginners). Every exercise is played on a real board with feedback after each move, there is nothing to install, and it is free.
Lessons in The chessboard
Squares, files and ranks – A chessboard has 64 squares, light and dark in turn. Let's find our way around it.
The name of every square – Every square has a name: first its file letter, then its rank number.
Setting up the pieces – Each side has 16 pieces: 8 pawns, 2 rooks, 2 knights, 2 bishops, a queen and a king.
Next steps
How the pieces move – Meet the six pieces one by one: rook, bishop, queen, king, knight and pawn. Move each of them around the board and collect all the stars.
chessGM