Archive
Category: Rules & Terms
Zugzwang, opposition and more: 10 advanced chess terms explained
Zugzwang, opposition, zwischenzug, prophylaxis, outposts and passed pawns: 10 advanced chess terms explained simply, with diagrams and examples.
How to read and write chess notation (a beginner’s guide)
Learn algebraic chess notation: squares, piece letters, captures, checks, castling and promotion, plus how to fill a tournament scoresheet correctly.
Castling, en passant and promotion: the special moves explained
Castling, en passant and pawn promotion are the three special moves in chess. Here’s how each works, the exact rules, and the mistakes beginners make.
Chess terms every beginner should know: an A to Z glossary
Blunder, fianchetto, fork, gambit, j’adoube, stalemate, zugzwang and more: an easy A to Z glossary of the chess terms every young player hears.
Chess etiquette and fair play: how to behave at a tournament
Shake hands, stay quiet, no phones, no outside help: the chess etiquette and fair-play rules every young player and parent should know before a tournament.
Classical, rapid and blitz: chess time controls explained
What does 90+30 or 15+10 mean? Classical, rapid and blitz time controls explained: increments, time pressure, clock rules and which formats help beginners most.
Tournament chess rules every player must know
Touch-move, j’adoube, illegal moves, draw offers, the 50-move rule, threefold repetition and more: the FIDE rules that decide real tournament games, explained simply.