Chess Rules

These are the rules of chess according to Charles Thayer (MrThayer on ChessWorld.net). Charles is a USCF (United States Chess Federation) Master Level player (Rating over 2000) and chess teacher.

I have found these rules to be sound practices to follow through each phase of the game.

If you're new to the game and looking for more basic instructions I can highly recommend downloading "The Rules of Chess" by Jason Hofferle. It's a 15 page primer in Adobe Acrobat format that covers all the essentials to get started playing chess. There's also an excellent online chess tutorial by S. Evan Kreider Chessville.

Opening & Middlegame

Every move:

* Rule 1 - Answer opponents threat.
* Rule 1 - Answer opponents threat. (This rule is so important I put it twice.)
* Rule 1 - Answer the threat of the piece that just moved. (Three rules in one!)

* Rule 2 - Re-capture material when opponent captures.

* Rule 3 - Play with your pieces, not with your pawns.

Opening rules:

1. Develop towards the 4 center squares (e4,e5,d4,d5).
2. Open either 1.e4 (P-K4) or 1.d4 (P-Q4).
3. Castle early.
4. Don't start attacking until development is finished.
5. Development is finished when the Rooks are connected.
6. Do not start attacking until Rooks are connected on back rank.

Bishop and Knight on 1 side of the board is 1 fist - Bishop and Knight on other side is the other fist.
(Bring both fists out to attack AND/OR defend.)

Do not make weakening pawn moves. (Only 2 are really needed!)

Remember, since you should be following these rules, your opponent should be also. Try to prevent opponent from achieving them.

Middlegame Rules:

1. Ruin your opponents pawn structure.
* Double pawns.
* Isolate pawns.
2. Don't make weakening pawn moves.
3. Trade off evenly when up material.
4. Release all pins immediately.

Middlegame Rules for Rooks:

1. Put Rooks on open or semi-open files.
2. Double Rooks on open or semi-open file.
3. Put a Rook on the 7th rank.
4. Double Rooks on the 7th rank.

 

 

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