Short introduction to International Chess

1. Chess UlTImanium The Ultimate Beginners Chess Guide Edison Siow Xiong Copyright 2010 ©

2. Prologue:Two Move Checkmate Before we delve into the deep and dark realms of chess ,we will see the quickest game of chess yet, the 2 move checkmate: White-Pf7-f6 Black-Pe2-e4 White-Pg7-Pg6 Black-Qd1-d5 Checkmate! Black wins

3. Chapter 1: Beginning Chess Materials: 1 chessboard, 32 chess pieces(16 pawns,4rooks,4 bishops,4 knights,2 queens and 2kings) Below are the starting positions of the computer and real life Note: If the computer does not show this position, give it a bonk on the hard disk, then it should work.

4. Chapter 2:How the pieces move Materials: Same as before Kings: Queens: Bishops: To Be Continued (After a short break)

5. Chapter 2:How the pieces move Materials: Same as before (sigh) Knight: Rook: Pawns: You’re probably wondering about the pawns diagram, well pawns move 1 step forward (cannot be moved back) but eats I step diagonally, isn’t that confusing? Then at the start it can move both 2 and 1 steps up. How’s that for confusing?

6. Chapter 2:How the pieces move Fleming Siow Moves a lot, sits there sulking and crying, might destroy natural order of the chessboard. Beware!

7. Chapter 2 ½:Signs and Notations As you approach Chapters 3 to 10, look out for these signs to make it clear whether it is hard, easy, important, boring or fantastic <!> means good moves or advice <!!>means amazing moves or essential in chess <?>means it might be a bit confusing <??> means it is very confusing, don’t be afraid to ask questions *** means that it may include weak and pitiful humour

9. Neither the king nor the rook has moved

10. The knights and the bishops have moved awayTo Be Continued

11. Chapter 3:Special Moves(<?>) En passant-This involves enabling the pawns to attack in a different way besides diagonally, making it more difficult for the opponent. Note: This move only works on enemy pawns, so if you think you look clever by using en passant to kill a queen, you may have to quit chess and find a better job as a maintenance man. To Be Continued

12. Chapter 3:Special Moves(<?>) Pawn promotion-This is basically a rule allowing pawns to upgrade to higher pieces (bishops, knights etc.) once they reach the other side

13. Chapter 4: Chess rules(<!!>) Finally, before we find out the best way to play chess, let’s look at the most important chess rule You’re king cannot be in check This is the all-important rule that the whole chess game revolves around, this rule may help turn the tables in a chess game, a rook may threaten a king, making way for a free queen, a knight may continuously attack a king gaining several free pieces as well as forcing the king into enemy territory or it might result in checkmate. (see “Checkmate” in Chapter 8)

14. Chapter 5:Developing Pieces<!!> The word ‘developing’ may mean many things but in chess it means placing your pieces in the best positions This is essential as to win the game, you must first do everything you can to control the board, and the best way is to enter the middle of the board. To Be Continued

15. Chapter 5:Developing Pieces<!!> At the corner, the king can only move to 3 squares, the queen 21,the knight 2,the bishop 7, and the rook 14 In the middle, the king can move to 8 squares the queen 28, the knight 8, the bishop 14, and the rook 14 As you can see the queen and the bishop are the most affected. Why? Well. Think of the the bishops as flying elephants(***) although there is a great difference (see next slide) Queens are flying elephants on rooks.

16. Chapter 5:Devolping Pieces*** Flying Elephant Bishop P.S. You do not want to know what a flying elephant on a rook looks like

17. Chapter 6:Start,Middle and End games(<!>) The game of chess is usually spread into 3 sections, the start game, the middle game, and the end game. In the start game, you should do everything to develop your pieces In the middle game, you should be done developing your pieces and start getting aggressive In the end game, you must now move your king out and try and promote your remaining pawns

18. Chapter 7:Forks and Pins<!> Forks and pins are very important in chess, as they can give you free pieces(and to be honest, we all love free stuff, don’t we?) This is the simplest of the forks, the knight fork. By checking the king ,there is a free passage to the queen Black-Kf6-f7 White-Ne4-g5

19. Chapter 7:Pins and Forks<!> Pins are just as important as forks. They can force your opponent into uncomfortable positions, and might as well earn yourself a free piece. In the following diagram, the black knight has been pinned by the rook. The black knight is unable to move because the white rook is threatening the king, so all white has to do is to move the queen pawn up and the black knight is done for.

20. Chapter 8: Checkmate <!!> Checkmate is essential in chess.(0bviously) The whole point of the game is to checkmate your opponent, so should you make a move giving up your queen but causing checkmate, then good for you. Over there, it shows the power of the knight, even when the king is so fiercely guarded, so a piece of advice, never surround your king when there is a knight around

21. Chapter 9: A piece of advice<!> Look where you are going Castle whenever possible Plan your strategy in advance Think before you act Never trade a good piece with a lower one Develop knights before bishops Create strong pawn structures Ensure safety of the king Make sure every move has a purpose

22. Chapter 10:Extra Resources You’re probably wondering why there is an empty chessboard on the side of this slide. Did you notice the letters and numbers on the side of the board? This numbers and letters are used to describe the position of the squares in which the pieces move These letters represent the different pieces as they move.(For Example, Kd2-d3) Pawns=nothing Bishops=B Knights=N Rooks=R Queens=Q Kings=K +=check #=checkmate

23. Chapter 10:Extra Resources Besides the two move checkmate, there are many other s spread across the world, making chess a fun yet unpredictable game. So before we end this chess ultimanium, let’s look at another short checkmate The four move checkmate White Black e4 e5 Bc4 Nc6 Qh5 Nc6 Qf7#

24. The End Of The beginner’s chess ultimanium A few words should wrap up this slide: