COMMENT This demonstration game of chess shows the basic moves and method play. Two players take it in turns to move their pieces. White moves first.
1 e2-e4 e7-e5
2 f2-f3 d7-d6
COMMENT Pawns move forward one square at a time, or optionally two squares on their first move.
3 c2-c4 f7-f6
4 g2-g3 d6-d5
5 f3-f4
COMMENT Pawns take other pieces by moving one square diagonally onto the opponent's piece.
5 d5xe4
6 f4xe5 f6xe5
COMMENT Bishops move diagonally any number of squares.
7 Bf1-e2 Bf8-c5
8 Be2-g4
COMMENT Bishops, like all other pieces except pawns, take opponent's pieces by moving onto the square they occupy.
8 Bc5xg1
9 Bg4xc8
COMMENT Knights move two squares in one direction (not diagonally) then one square at right angles. Knights are the only pieces that can jump over other pieces.
9 Ng8-f6
10 Nb1-c3 Nb8-c6
11 Nc3xe4 Nf6xe4
COMMENT Rooks move vertically or horizontally any number of squares.
12 Rh1xg1 Ra8xc8
13 Rg1-g2 Rc8-b8
14 Rg2-e2 Rb8-c8
15 Re2xe4
COMMENT Queens move in any direction any number of squares.
15 Qd8-d6
16 Qd1-f3 Qd6-b4
17 Qf3-c3 Qb4xc3
18 b2xc3 Nc6-a5
19 Bc1-b2
COMMENT Castling is a special move where the King moves two squares towards the Rook and the Rook jumps over it (provided neither piece has moved before).
19 o-o
COMMENT Castling can be done on either side.
20 o-o-o
COMMENT Apart from castling, Kings move just one square in any direction.
20 Kg8-h8
21 Kc1-c2 Kh8-g8
22 Kc2-d3
COMMENT When a piece threatens to take a King, the King is in "check".
22 Rc8-d8+
COMMENT The King cannot be taken, but must get out of check any way that it can.
23 Kd3-e3 Na5xc4+
24 Re4xc4 Rf8-f3+
25 Ke3xf3 e5-e4+
26 Rc4xe4 Rd8-f8+
27 Re4-f4
COMMENT If pawns move all the way to the other end of the board, they can be promoted to any other piece except a King, usually a Queen because it's the most powerful piece.
27 c7-c5
28 a2-a4 b7-b5
29 a4xb5 a7-a5
30 b5-b6 a5-a4
31 b6-b7 a4-a3
32 Qb7-b8 a3-a2
33 Qb8-e5 Qa2-a1
COMMENT The objective of the game is to get the opponent's King in check in such a way that they can't get out of it. This is called "mate".