https://chesstactics.blog/Practical chess guides: how the pieces move, board setup and notation, openings, strategy, tactics and ratings.enhttps://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/chess-pieces-names-and-moves/https://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/chess-pieces-names-and-moves/Learn the names of all six chess pieces, how many of each you get, and how each one moves and captures, plus castling, promotion and en passant.Piece MovementWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/can-kings-capture-kings/https://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/can-kings-capture-kings/No. A king can never capture or touch the opposing king in chess. Learn why, how kings can still capture other pieces, and how checkmate ends the game.Piece MovementWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/how-the-king-moves/https://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/how-the-king-moves/The king moves one square in any direction but never into check. Learn how it captures, how castling works, and which king moves are illegal.Piece MovementWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/how-to-capture-a-queen/https://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/how-to-capture-a-queen/Any piece that attacks the queen can capture her. Learn how to win a queen with attacks from lesser pieces, forks, pins, traps and queen trades.Piece MovementWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/piece-that-moves-any-direction/https://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/piece-that-moves-any-direction/The queen can move in any direction along ranks, files and diagonals for any distance. See how the king and knight compare and what blocks each piece.Piece MovementWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/en-passant-rule/https://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/en-passant-rule/En passant is a special pawn capture, sometimes misspelled empassment. Learn when it is allowed, see an example, how to write it, and common mistakes.Piece MovementWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/pieces-that-move-diagonally/https://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/pieces-that-move-diagonally/Bishops, queens, kings and pawns can all use diagonals in chess. See how each piece moves diagonally and which ones, like rooks and knights, cannot.Piece MovementWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/pieces-that-move-backwards/https://chesstactics.blog/piece-movement/pieces-that-move-backwards/Every chess piece can move backwards except the pawn. See a piece-by-piece guide to retreating, why pawns cannot, and when retreating is a good idea.Piece MovementWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/board-and-notation/proper-chess-board-setup/https://chesstactics.blog/board-and-notation/proper-chess-board-setup/Set up a chess board correctly: light square bottom-right, pawns on the second rank, then rooks, knights, bishops, queen on her color, and the king.Board & NotationWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/board-and-notation/algebraic-chess-notation-examples/https://chesstactics.blog/board-and-notation/algebraic-chess-notation-examples/Learn algebraic chess notation through examples: piece letters, squares, captures, check, castling, promotion and a short sample game you can read move by move.Board & NotationWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/board-and-notation/chess-notation-for-knight/https://chesstactics.blog/board-and-notation/chess-notation-for-knight/In chess notation the knight is written with a capital N, as in Nf3. See how to write captures, checks and two-knight moves, plus older Kt notation.Board & NotationWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/board-and-notation/tournament-chess-board-size/https://chesstactics.blog/board-and-notation/tournament-chess-board-size/Tournament chess boards typically use squares of about 2 to 2.5 inches (5 to 6 cm). Learn how square size, board size and piece size fit together.Board & NotationWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/board-and-notation/chess-board-orientation/https://chesstactics.blog/board-and-notation/chess-board-orientation/Which way does the chess board go? Put a light square in each player's bottom-right corner. Learn why it matters for the queen, king and notation.Board & NotationWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/learning-chess/chess-lesson-plans/https://chesstactics.blog/learning-chess/chess-lesson-plans/A practical chess lesson plan for teachers and coaches: a ten-lesson sequence for beginners, how to structure each session, and ways to check progress.Learning ChessWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/learning-chess/how-old-to-play-chess/https://chesstactics.blog/learning-chess/how-old-to-play-chess/There is no official minimum or maximum age for chess. Learn typical starting ages, signs a child is ready, and how to introduce the game at any age.Learning ChessWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/learning-chess/chess-in-schools/https://chesstactics.blog/learning-chess/chess-in-schools/Why many schools offer chess, what benefits are plausible, what research does and does not show, and how a school can start a simple chess program.Learning ChessWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-openings/advanced-chess-openings/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-openings/advanced-chess-openings/What makes a chess opening advanced? Explore complex systems like the Najdorf and Ruy Lopez, d4 setups, repertoire building, move orders and how to study theory.Chess OpeningsWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-openings/first-pawn-move-in-chess/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-openings/first-pawn-move-in-chess/Learn how a pawn moves on its first turn, whether the first move must be a pawn, and why 1.e4 and 1.d4 are the most common first pawn moves in chess.Chess OpeningsWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-openings/spanish-defence-ruy-lopez/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-openings/spanish-defence-ruy-lopez/The Spanish Defence, better known as the Ruy Lopez (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5): main ideas, key variations, how to play it as White, and how Black can respond.Chess OpeningsWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-openings/italian-game-chess/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-openings/italian-game-chess/Learn the Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4): its main ideas, Black's replies, key plans for White, famous traps and how it compares with the Ruy Lopez.Chess OpeningsWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-openings/sicilian-defence-e4-c5/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-openings/sicilian-defence-e4-c5/Understand the Sicilian Defence (1.e4 c5): why Black plays it, the Open Sicilian systems like Najdorf and Dragon, anti-Sicilian options for White, and key plans.Chess OpeningsWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-strategy/chess-strategy-guide/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-strategy/chess-strategy-guide/Learn chess strategy: core ideas like king safety, space, piece activity and pawn structure, plus opening, middlegame and endgame principles and how to pick a plan.Chess StrategyWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-strategy/basic-chess-strategy-for-beginners/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-strategy/basic-chess-strategy-for-beginners/A simple chess strategy for beginners: control the center, develop your pieces, castle, avoid blunders, and know what to do in the middlegame and endgame.Chess StrategyWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-strategy/chess-visualization-training/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-strategy/chess-visualization-training/Chess visualization training made simple: coordinate drills, knight tours, notation exercises, puzzles without moving pieces and a short daily routine.Chess StrategyWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-strategy/how-to-think-in-chess/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-strategy/how-to-think-in-chess/Learn how to think in chess with a repeatable routine: read your opponent's move, check forcing moves, compare candidates, evaluate and blunder-check each move.Chess StrategyWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-strategy/strategy-vs-tactics-chess/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-strategy/strategy-vs-tactics-chess/Strategy vs tactics in chess: strategy is your long-term plan, tactics are short forcing sequences. See the differences, how they connect and which to study first.Chess StrategyWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-tactics/best-chess-tactics/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-tactics/best-chess-tactics/Learn the core chess tactics, from forks, pins and skewers to discovered attacks and back-rank mates, plus a simple routine for spotting them in your games.Chess TacticsWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-tactics/hanging-pieces-in-chess/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-tactics/hanging-pieces-in-chess/A hanging piece is one you can lose for nothing. Learn how to recognise loose pieces, count attackers and defenders, and build a check that stops free losses.Chess TacticsWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-tactics/how-to-win-in-5-moves/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-tactics/how-to-win-in-5-moves/Quick chess wins like Scholar's mate rely on opponent mistakes. See a few five-move traps, how to defend against them, and what to learn instead.Chess TacticsWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-tactics/chess-intermezzo/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-tactics/chess-intermezzo/An intermezzo, or zwischenzug, is an in-between move that interrupts an expected sequence with a forcing threat. Learn how it works and how to spot one.Chess TacticsWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/chess-tactics/why-you-keep-blundering/https://chesstactics.blog/chess-tactics/why-you-keep-blundering/Blunders usually come from attention lapses, not lack of knowledge. Learn the common causes and a simple pre-move check that helps you stop giving away material.Chess TacticsWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/ratings-and-players/chess-ratings-explained/https://chesstactics.blog/ratings-and-players/chess-ratings-explained/Learn what a chess rating is, how Elo and Glicko work, what 300, 800, 1000 and 1200 mean, and why FIDE, USCF and online ratings differ.Ratings & PlayersWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/ratings-and-players/iq-of-chess-players/https://chesstactics.blog/ratings-and-players/iq-of-chess-players/Do chess players have a high IQ? See what research suggests, why viral grandmaster IQ lists are unreliable, and why Elo cannot be converted into IQ.Ratings & PlayersWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/ratings-and-players/chess-or-checkers-harder/https://chesstactics.blog/ratings-and-players/chess-or-checkers-harder/Is chess harder than checkers? Compare rules, piece counts, game complexity, solved status and computer play to see which game is tougher to learn and master.Ratings & PlayersWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/ratings-and-players/lichess-to-chesscom-rating-converter/https://chesstactics.blog/ratings-and-players/lichess-to-chesscom-rating-converter/Estimate how your Lichess rating compares to Chess.com and FIDE. Learn why Lichess numbers run higher and how to build a realistic conversion yourself.Ratings & PlayersWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chesstactics.blog/ratings-and-players/what-chess-pieces-represent/https://chesstactics.blog/ratings-and-players/what-chess-pieces-represent/What do the chess pieces represent? Explore the origins of each piece, common symbolic meanings, and whether the Bible or spirituality says anything about chess.Ratings & PlayersWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT