Which difficulty should I start with?

Start on Easy, which makes mistakes you can punish. Move up to Medium and Hard once you win consistently and check for tactics every move.

Can I take back a move?

Yes. The Undo button lets you take back moves, which is a great way to learn from blunders against the computer.

Can I choose my colour?

Yes. Pick light or dark before the game; light always moves first.

How to Win at Chess: Beginner Strategy Guide

Chess rewards a few clear habits more than memorised openings. Our version has full rules, including castling, en passant and promotion, with three computer levels and a two-player mode. This guide covers the principles that win most beginner and club games: a sound opening, safe king, sharp tactics and a simple plan for the endgame.

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Follow opening principles

In the first ten moves, put a pawn or two in the centre, develop your knights and bishops toward the middle, and castle. Avoid moving the same piece twice or bringing the queen out early, where it can be chased around while your opponent develops. A good test: by move ten, most of your minor pieces should be off the back row.

Keep your king safe

Castling tucks the king behind pawns and connects your rooks. After castling, avoid pushing the pawns in front of your king without a reason, since each push opens a line for attack. If your opponent castles on the same side, attacks are slower; on opposite sides, both players usually race to push pawns against the other king.

Check, capture, threat

Before every move, ask what your opponent is threatening, then look for checks, captures and threats of your own. Most games at this level are decided by tactics: a fork attacks two pieces at once, a pin stops a piece from moving because something more valuable stands behind it, and a skewer forces a valuable piece to move and wins the one behind.

Count material and trade wisely

Rough values help: pawn 1, knight 3, bishop 3, rook 5, queen 9. Do not give a rook for a knight unless you get something concrete back. When you are ahead in material, trade pieces, not pawns, because simpler positions are easier to win. When behind, keep pieces on the board and look for complications.

Know the basic endgame

In the endgame the king becomes a strong piece, so march it toward the centre. Passed pawns, with no enemy pawns in front of them or on the next files, are your main winning chance: push them with your king's support. Learn to checkmate with king and queen, and with king and rook, by pushing the enemy king to the edge.

Questions

Which difficulty should I start with?: Start on Easy, which makes mistakes you can punish. Move up to Medium and Hard once you win consistently and check for tactics every move.
Can I take back a move?: Yes. The Undo button lets you take back moves, which is a great way to learn from blunders against the computer.
Can I choose my colour?: Yes. Pick light or dark before the game; light always moves first.

Chess
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