Sakk

Chess is a two-player strategy board game played on an 8x8 checkered board. It is one of the world's most popular games, with millions of players worldwide. Each player begins with 16 pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns.

Checkmate your opponent's king. This means the king is in a position to be captured (in check) and there is no legal move to escape.

Each player starts with their pieces arranged on the two rows closest to them. From left to right on the back row: rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight, rook. The front row is filled with eight pawns. White pieces go on rows 1-2, black on rows 7-8. The queen always starts on her own color (white queen on white square, black queen on black square).

1. White always moves first. Players alternate turns, moving one piece per turn.
2. The King moves one square in any direction. The king cannot move to a square where it would be in check.
3. The Queen moves any number of squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
4. The Rook moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically.
5. The Bishop moves any number of squares diagonally. Each bishop stays on its starting color.
6. The Knight moves in an L-shape: two squares in one direction and one square perpendicular. Knights can jump over other pieces.
7. Pawns move forward one square (or two squares from their starting position). They capture diagonally one square forward.
8. Special moves: Castling (king and rook switch positions under certain conditions), En passant (capturing a pawn that just moved two squares), and Pawn promotion (pawn reaching the far end becomes any piece except king).
9. When a piece can capture the king on the next move, the king is in 'check' and must escape.
10. A player cannot make a move that leaves their own king in check.

Win by checkmating your opponent's king (the king is in check with no legal escape). The game is a draw if: stalemate (no legal moves but not in check), insufficient material, threefold repetition, or the 50-move rule.

• *Control the center of the board with your pawns and pieces early in the game.
• *Develop your knights and bishops before your queen in the opening.
• *Castle early to protect your king and activate your rook.
• *Don't move the same piece twice in the opening unless necessary.
• *Connect your rooks by castling and moving pieces off the back rank.
• *Think about your opponent's threats before making your move.
• *In the endgame, activate your king - it becomes a powerful piece.

Chess originated in India around the 6th century as 'chaturanga' and evolved through Persia and the Arab world before reaching Europe by the 10th century. Modern rules were standardized in the 19th century.