Chess Board

Points to Remember
Files are VERTICAL groups of squares, represented by alphabets {a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h}
Ranks are HORIZONTAL groups of squares, represented by numbers {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}
Every square is named using its FILE & RANK (example: d4)
Diagonals have SAME color squares but can be of different lengths. Two longest
diagonals have 8 squares each (one is light squared and the other is dark squared).
Files, Ranks, and Diagonals are like the highways (Interstate) on the chessboard.
How a Rook Moves

How a Bishop Moves


How a Queen Moves


Points to Remember
Rook is the second most powerful piece
Rook is a fast moving piece (Long Range)
Rook moves on Ranks and Files
Rook anywhere on the board has 14 moves.
Every other pieces mobility is dependent on its
location on the board.
Points to Remember
Bishop is the third most powerful piece along
with Knights
Bishop is a fast moving piece (Long Range)
Bishop moves on Diagonals
Bishop in the middle of the board has 13 moves
Bishop in the corner has only 7 moves
Bishop is color-blind.
Points to Remember
Queen is the most powerful piece
Queen is a fast moving piece (Long Range)
Queen moves on Files, Ranks, and Diagonals
Queen in the middle of the board has 27 moves
Queen in the corner has only 21 moves
It is slightly more powerful than an Rook &
Bishop combined (9 points)

How a King Moves



How a Pawn Moves







Points to Remember
King is a slow moving piece
King moves 1 square in every direction
King in the middle of the board has 8 moves
King on the edge of the board has 5 moves
King in the corner has only 3 moves
Two Kings cannot sit next to each other (on
adjacent squares)
Points to Remember
Pawn is the least powerful piece
Pawn is a slow moving piece (Short Range)
Pawn moves 1 square on a File. But, when it is in
the starting square it can choose to move 2
squares.
However, it captures diagonally (1 square)
On reaching the other end of the board, it can
promote to a Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight.
How a Knight Moves


Knight Moves in an L shape

Step1: Move 2 Squares (Files/Ranks) Step2: Move 1 Square (Ranks/Files) Knight Moves up to 8 Squares



Points to Remember
Knight moves in an L shape
Knight jumps from Light to Dark or Dark to Light
Knight in the middle of the board has 8 moves
Knight in the corner has only 2 moves
Knight is the only piece that can jump over other
pieces

























Approximate Value System in Chess
PAWN = 1 (POINT)

KNIGHT = 3

BISHOP = 3

ROOK = 5

QUEEN = 9

KING = CANNOT BE TRADED
Piece Types
Long Range = { QUEEN, ROOK, BISHOP}

Short Range = {KING, KNIGHT, PAWN}



Major Pieces = QUEEN & ROOKS

Minor Pieces = KNIGHTS & BISHOPS

Chess Tactics PINS
























Points to Remember
A PIN is a straight-line tactic. Only long range pieces (Bishop, Rook, or Queen) can
PIN a piece.
To form a PIN, three pieces need to align in a straight line (File, Rank, or Diagonal).
The three pieces are named according to their role as: Attacker/Pinning Piece,
Victim/Pinned Piece, and Target.
Target is the most valuable piece compared to the Victim.
When the Target is the King, we call it an absolute PIN. Otherwise, we call it a
relative PIN.
Generally speaking, a PIN makes the Victim immobile (cannot move without losing
something else in return). And thus, becomes easy to capture it.
For the PIN to be really effective, the Target must be vulnerable (unprotected).
Sometimes, we may have to attack the Victim with more pieces/pawns to win it.
We call this approach Piling on a PIN (POP). The order is PIN FIRST & THEN ATTACK
MULTIPLE TIMES TO OVERWHELM THE DEFENCE.
It is also possible to PIN a piece that is already under attack. This makes it easy to
win the piece instead of a simple trade. The order is ATTACK FIRST & THEN PIN IT
TO MAKE IT IMMOBILE.
To win the Victim, we should have one of the following:
o bring more attackers (POP) or
o reduce the number of defenders by exchanging them or
o attack with lower value piece(s).
It is sometimes useful to substitute a piece by exchanging and then set up a PIN on
that same square. This is sometimes called an exchange combination.
The Attacker must be protected whenever pinning a Queen. Otherwise, the Queen
will capture the (unprotected) Attacker for free.
Bishop pinning a Rook or Rook pinning a Bishop, the Attacker need not be
protected.
When there are pieces shielding a potential VICTIM from a PIN, use pawns to chase
those interposed pieces to expose the VICTIM to a PIN.
In some advanced cases, the Target could be a square. These may be a bit difficult
to spot for a beginner. More on this later.
When a piece is pinned in two different directions, we call it a cross-pin. Cross-pins
dont happen that often, but when they do they are fatal.
It is very important to remember that a pinned piece (VICTIM) is a poor defender.
Also, a King is usually a bad defender of a pinned piece (VICTIM).
Chess Tactics PINS (contd.)
Points to Remember
Purpose of a PIN:
o Win the pinned piece (VICTIM)
o Win the piece/square protected by the VICTIM
o Force favorable exchanges in order to reach a winning endgame.
o Force a weakening move in the course of unpinning or preventing the PIN
Setting up the PIN:
o If the pieces are already aligned, then it is just a matter of noticing &
executing it
o If not all three participants are present, then one should find ways to force
such an alignment. This might require an initial sacrifice from our side.
Exchange combination is when we substitute one pinned piece (usually a half
pinned piece) for another (totally pinned). We use this combination for the
following reasons:
o Replace a half-pinned piece (some mobility is still present in the line of the
pin) with a completely pinned piece (no mobility whatsoever)
o Gain a tempo that is, bring a new piece into the mix with a gain of tempo.
Sometimes, bringing a new piece to pile on the pin (POP) has to be done
with a gain of tempo to have a devastating effect.
o Both of the reasons above at the same time. That is, we replace a half-
pinned piece with a totally pinned piece and bring a new piece with a gain
of tempo.