EIGHT SQUARE™ - Chess Primer

King: Although the king is not worth any points it must remain on the board. It has
vulnerabilities and protecting it is a high priority. A good way to protect the king is
to do a special move, either a queenside or kingside castle. If your king is in a
position and another piece is attacking it, which is called check that is OK.
However, you have to move out of check, and if you can’t, you are in checkmate
which means you are in check and can’t legally move. Then, say “Good game” and
your opponent wins.

White is in check and has to move. Can Black then get checkmate in 1 move?

Queen: The queen is the most powerful piece on the board. Many players like to
trade their queens. This makes move calculations much less difficult and keeps
their opponent from obtaining a quick checkmate. The queen is worth nine points.
The queen can move diagonally as a bishop does. It can also move horizontally or
vertically like a rook but cannot jump over pieces as a knight can.

Rook: The rook is worth five points. The rook is the second most powerful piece on
the board. Rooks are considered major pieces. The rooks move only vertically and
horizontally. The rooks are best used at the end of the game on open ranks, files or
when connected. Having connected rooks means there are no other pieces
between them on ranks or files. Connected rooks provide a strong blockade to
protect the King.

Bishop: The bishop is worth 3 points like the knight. Trading a bishop for a knight
is a fair trade. Yet, some players are better with knights than with bishops and vice
versa. Players may obtain an advantage by being willing to trade the piece that
they are less strong with. The bishop can only go diagonally. Unlike any other piece
on the board it must stay on its original color square. This atypical piece is more
valuable attacking when both bishops are used in conjunction. Bishops increase in
value as the game nears an end.

© 2008 James Jones. All rights reserved. 1

 EIGHT SQUARE™ - Chess Primer

White: Roy Lopez Defense, Black: Two Knights Defense

Knight: The knight is worth three points like the bishop. Knights’ value can
vary at the opening, middle, and end of a game. The knights are more
valuable in the opening of the game because it is the only piece besides a
pawn that can move out on the first move, so it is commonly used in
openings. For example, in the Two Knights Defense you move out your pawn
in front of your king and then move out the two knights. The knight is the
only piece on the board that can jump over other pieces and connected
knights can form a hefty obstacle. Knights that are close to the center of the
board are also more valuable. If the king is in check by a knight, the only
moves are to take the knight or move your king. You cannot block a knight
check with another piece. So you have to move your king, take the knight,
or befall a smothering checkmate. Because both the king and knight start
with the letter K, the knight is represented with the letter N.

Pawn: There are eight pawns for each player in a chess game. A pawn is
the least valuable; it is worth a single point. It is also the smallest on the
board. Despite its low value, pawn positioning may cost a player the game if
an opening defense is not established. But there is hope for all pawns. If a
pawn manages to reach to the end of the board, also known as the eighth
square, it is promoted to a queen. A promoted pawn doesn’t have to
become a queen. There are special circumstances where an under-promotion
to a knight, rook, or bishop might be desirable. Moving pawns takes
commitment, because pawns don’t move backwards.

© 2008 James Jones. All rights reserved. 2