How to Play Chess: A Beginner’s Guide by Western Chess Academy
Chess is a timeless game of skill, logic, and strategy. If you’re wondering how to play chess, you’re not alone! Many people are discovering chess for the first time, especially with the rise of online chess platforms and school-level tournaments.
At Western Chess Academy, we believe chess is for everyone—from children to adults. In this guide, we’ll explain how to play chess for beginners, the basic rules, and even how to enjoy chess games with friends online.
Let’s get started on your journey to becoming a confident player!
What is Chess?
Chess is a two-player board game played on a checkered board of 64 squares. One player controls the white pieces, and the other controls the black. The goal of the game is to checkmate your opponent’s king.
Don’t worry—it’s easier than it sounds once you understand the basics!
How to Play Chess for Beginners
If you’re just starting out, here are the steps to learn how to play chess for beginners:
Step 1: Learn the Board and Pieces
The board has 8 rows (1 to 8) and 8 columns (a to h). Each player begins with 16 pieces:
- 1 King
- 1 Queen
- 2 Rooks
- 2 Knights
- 2 Bishops
- 8 Pawns
White moves first, followed by black.
♟ Step 2: Understand How the Pieces Move
Each piece has its own movement:
- Pawn: Moves one square forward (two on its first move), captures diagonally
- Knight: Moves in an “L” shape and can jump over pieces
- Bishop: Moves diagonally
- Rook: Moves in straight lines (horizontal or vertical)
- Queen: Moves any number of squares in any direction
- King: Moves one square in any direction
Step 3: Know the Objective
The goal is checkmate—putting your opponent’s king in danger with no way to escape.
There are also other game results:
- Stalemate – The player has no legal move but is not in check (draw)
- Draw – Both players agree or cannot checkmate
- Resign – One player gives up
- Timeout – One player runs out of time (in timed games)
Special Chess Rules to Know
As you learn how to play chess games, you’ll come across a few unique rules:
Castling
A special move involving the king and a rook that protects the king and activates your rook.
En Passant
A special pawn capture when your opponent moves two squares forward next to your pawn.
Promotion
When a pawn reaches the last row, it is promoted to any piece—usually a queen.
How to Practice Playing Chess
If you want to get better, you need to play chess games regularly. Here’s how you can begin:
1. Play with Family or Friends
Practice at home using a real board. It helps improve your focus and pattern recognition.
2. Join a Chess Academy
Learning under the guidance of trained coaches helps you avoid beginner mistakes. Western Chess Academy offers offline, online, and in-home classes.
3. Solve Chess Puzzles
These help improve tactics, checkmate patterns, and calculation skills.
How to Play Chess with a Friend Online
One of the best things about chess today is the ability to play it from anywhere! If you’re wondering how to play chess with a friend online, here’s what you can do:
🔗 Use Free Online Platforms
Websites like Chess.com, Lichess.org, and Chess24 let you:
- Create a free account
- Add your friend as a contact
- Invite them to play a game
- Choose a time format (Blitz, Rapid, Bullet)
🎮 Use Chess Apps
Mobile apps let you play chess online with friends through simple links or usernames.
🧠 Join Online Tournaments
At Western Chess Academy, our students participate in online practice tournaments to apply what they learn.
Tips for Beginner Chess Players
Here are a few simple tips for beginners learning how to play chess games:
1. Control the Center
Start by moving pawns to the center (e4 or d4) and bring your knights and bishops into play.
2. Don’t Move the Same Piece Twice Early On
Use your moves wisely to develop all your pieces quickly.
3. Castle Early
This protects your king and connects your rooks.
4. Watch Your Opponent’s Moves
Always ask yourself: “What is my opponent trying to do?”
5. Don’t Bring Your Queen Out Too Early
Let your smaller pieces do the work in the beginning.
Learn Chess the Right Way with Western Chess Academy
At Western Chess Academy, we specialize in teaching how to play chess for beginners in a clear, step-by-step way. Whether you’re a child, teen, or adult, we have customized programs for all age groups.
Offline Coaching (Delhi Center)
Join in-person classes at our academy in West Delhi.
Online Chess Classes
Learn from anywhere in India or the world through live online lessons.
In-Home Chess Coaching
We provide personal chess tutors at home across Delhi NCR.
Why Choose Us?
- ✔ Expert, FIDE-rated coaches
- ✔ Simple and clear explanations for beginners
- ✔ Regular practice games & tournaments
- ✔ Small batches and personal attention
- ✔ Free demo class available
- ✔ Trusted by students all over Delhi NCR
Whether you want to learn the basics, improve tactics, or get tournament-ready, our coaching makes it possible.
Get Started Today!
📞 Call or WhatsApp: 99900 28579
🎓 Book a free demo class
📍 Available in Delhi NCR & Online
Final Words
Learning how to play chess opens the door to a world of fun, learning, and challenge. And with the right training and consistent practice, anyone can improve.
Whether you’re wondering how to play chess games, learning the basics, or trying to figure out how to play chess with a friend online, Western Chess Academy is here to guide you every step of the way.
🧠 Learn. Think. Win.
Start your chess journey with confidence today!
