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You will find in this pages a structured and simple account of the «Classical Chess Theory» (concisely: CCT). Codified by the first World Chess Champion
William Steinitz
and by the famous Chess player and theorist
Siegbert Tarrasch
the CCT contains the greater part of basic rules and principles
still used today.
Well, to some degree a good knowledge and practice of this theory is fully sufficient to become a good chess player. 1o) The empty chessboard : ranks et files A chessboard appears like a square board constituted of 64 little squares, alternately white and black, like indicated in the following diagram : DIAG 1 :
The empty chessboard, represented like this, is subdivided into : All square, being the intersection between a file and a rank, is consequently defined by a letter and a digit. In this way, for example: the e2-square is the intersection between the
In other words, this one is the unique square being simultaneously on the e-file and the 2th rank . Similarly the g5-square is the intersection between : the g-file and the 5th rank. Remark : Tarrasch used the term «rung» (I apologize because I don't know pricisely the English or German tern; the corresponding word in French is: «traverse») to indicate what it is today more usual to name a «rank» («rangée» in French). Nevertheless, we are allowed to use both terms jointly. People use also the words «line» or «row» («ligne» in French), but we prefer to give to these last term a more generic meaning. We will precise all this in the next paragraph. 2o) Alternation of «white» (or «light») and «black» (or «dark») squares Chessboard squares are alternately «white» and «black». In fact it is more accurate to say here : light or dark squares, in reference with the materiality of the chessboard. But, in a symbolic point of view, we will routinely use the terms : white square and black square. The above diagram represents the color of each square of an empty chessboard: These two very simple rules allow you to define, without any ambiguity, the color alternation on the chessboard. 3o) Diagonals At the straight lines already defined («files» and «ranks»), it is convenient to include another type of line, named: diagonals. These are straight lines constituted of squares of the same color. The empty chessboard is divided into: a7,b8 a5, b6,c7,d8 a3, b4,c5,d6,e7,f8 a1,b2,c3,d4,e5,f6,g7,h8 (large black diagonal) c1,d2,e3, f4,g5,h6 e1,f2,g3,h4 g1,h2 a8 a6,b7,c8 a4,b5,c6,d7,e8 (Spanish diagonal) a2,b3,c4,d5,e6,f7,g8 (Italian diagonal) b1,c2,d3, e4,f5,g6,h7 d1,e2,f3,g4,h5 f1,g2,h3 h1 a1 a3,b2,c1 a5,b4,c3,d2,e1 a7,b6,c5,d4,e3,f2,g1 b8,c7,d6,e5,f4,g3,h2 d8,e7,f6,g5,h4 f8,g7,h6 h8 a2,b1 a4,b3,c2,d1 a6,b5,c4,d3,e2,f1 a8,b7,c6,d5,e4,f3,g2,h1 (large white diagonal) c8,d7,e6,f5,g4,h3 e8,f7,g6,h5 g8,h7 4o) Sides and corners Finally we recognize on the chessboard the sides constituted by the 1th rank and the 8th rank, on the one hand ; the a-file and the h-file on the other hand. This both files ( a and h) have a very particular signification. When a piece find onself there, it is usual, in French to say that this one is sur la bande. Sincerly I don't know exactly how translate this expression !? ... perhaps (with some chance :-)) : «on the far ends». We rely upon our English speaking friends to enlighten us in this respect. Lastly the four squares a1, h1, a8, h8 are the angles or corners of the chessboard.
On the chessboard are disposed pieces; precisely: chess pieces; there are 32 of them. They split up into two armies of equal strength, both constituted of 16 pieces. This term of army is utilized for a very long time, as the obliged comparison between chess game and the art of war ! ... We'll come back many times on this theme. It is equally usual to say that each army is a camp. 1o) Pieces constituting each army Each army is composed by 16 pieces broken down this way : - A King - A Queen - Two Rooks - Two Bishops - Two Knights - Eight pawns Consequently, there is initially on the chessboard a white King and a black one, a white Queen and a black one, two white Rooks and two black Rooks etc… sixteen pawns whom eight are white and eight black. Pieces other that pawns are said figures or chessmen or pieces, hence this last term having here a more restrictive sense (it is necessary to get into the habit of this double meaning, which is inescapable; this is only the context which allows to understand the exact signification). Notice that Tarrasch gave sometimes, to the figures, the name of officers. This use, nowadays, seems to be obsolete. As for pawns, it happens they are called infantrymen. 2o) Initial position of pieces At the beginning of a game the 32 pieces are set like this : Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen, King, Bishop, Knight, Rook All this is specified by the following diagram :
DIAG 2
: On that account: in the start position, Queens are both located on a square of its color (the White Queen on a white square, the Black Queen on a black square), while both Kings are situated on the opposite color (the White King on a black square, the Black King on a white square). 3o) Direction of piece moves It is convenient (soon we will see the reasons) to recognize a positive direction of piece moving. In other words we wish to distinguish if a piece "moves forward" or "moves back".
Before answering to this quite legitimate questioning, first let us suggest some hypothesis. Chess game could consist to: In this conditions the aim of victory would not necessarily be easy to define and, in addition, chess game would not have the charm and the complexity of our favorite entertainment. Now, to explain validly the goal of chess we need some preliminaries. I hope you are always full of curiosity and enthusiastic ... Then all is well! 1o) Move of pieces : general rules Each piece (figure or pawn) moves in a specific way. Nevertheless we first go and study general rules, common to all pieces on the chessboard : Free and occupied squares : At each stage of the evolution of a game all square of the chessboard can be occupied by only one piece (one White or Black piece). If a piece is on a square this one is said occupied. In the opposite case this square is said free or empty. "First move" or "pull" : It is the fact, for a camp (White or Black) to have to play. At the beginning of the game White have the «first move» or «pull» ; then it is the turn of Black to have the first move. And then, alternatively, each camp after the other. Play a move : When a camp hold the : «first move» it is not only authorized, but equally obliged to play a move ; this one consists in shifting of a single piece. The rule is to take the piece out of the square where it is ("start square") and to put it on the fitting square ("new square"), this one being necessarily different of the origin square. "Start square" and "new square" : Play a piece (pawn or figure) consists to put it out of the start square, in other words the square where is located originally this piece, and to set it on the new square, we mean this one where is set the piece after the move. It is convenient to said that this particular piece is the «moving-piece». Conditions of moving : The displacement of the picked piece (i.e. : of the «moving-piece») is submitted to the following conditions : i) To go from the "start square" to the "new one" the piece must go along a specific way corresponding to its own type of moving. ii) In the moving of a piece this one advance from a square to the following, since the «start square» until the «new square»; this is precisely one's way. The «way» used by the piece must not be blocked up or encumber; that means that all intermediate squares must be free (i.e. occupied neither by White nor by Black). The unique exception concerns the Knight, which cannot be blocked. iii) At the «blockage», of which we was speaking, is added an other restriction capable of limiting the mobility of a piece. The rule is that no chess piece is allowed, by its moving, to put its own King under the menace of an enemy piece. It is then usual to say that there is a pin ; and that the corresponding piece is pinned. iv) The «new square» or «arrival square» may be either «free» or occupied by a piece of the opposed camp; in this latter case there is said captured and we will name this one captured-piece. v) In case of capture, the «moving-piece» takes the place of the «captured-piece» and this one disappears from the chessboard. This last piece is captured. In the case where, at the next move or later, the piece having captured an opponent's piece is, to its turn, captured, it is usual to say that this piece is taken back or recaptured and that there is an exchange (between both pieces). 2o) Check to the King - Cheakmate and stalemate Here is three notions, related to the opponent's King, closely connected: To check the King : The King of a camp is in check precisely if it is attacked by an enemy piece. It is then, in principle, usual to say : «check!», or more precisely : «check to the King!» although this use is practically lost today. Checkmate or simply Mate : The King is attacked by an enemy piece («check») and cannot escape. On the one hand the King which is being attacked doesn't have an escape square at its disposal; and on the other hand no piece of its camp is able immediately (what wants to say in only one move) either to place between the King and the attacking piece or to capture this one. Then in pure logic the King may be captured by the other camp ; but this one is strictly prohibited. Consequenty the game stop then. Reduce a King to be «checkmate» is (check)mate it. stalemate : Occurs, exceptionally, it is advisable to say that, when a camp is unable to make a legal move although its King is not in check. In this case, the side which has to play is unable to move a piece. In particular : its King, not in check, is not able to move without to get in «check», what is impossible. Then, also, the game is finished. 3o) Special rules In addition let us present some special rules: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: «The rule stating that a player who touches a piece with at least one legal move is obliged to move that piece. Castling is considered a move of the King and not of the Rook. If an opponent's piece is touched it must be captured if possible.» It is usual, for French-speaking, to say : «pièce touchée, pièce jouée». 4o) Goal of the Chess game The goal of the Chess game is to make the King of the other side checkmate. But, having said that, it is judicious to notice that the game can end in many ways. Let us review now the varied conclusions of a chess game. First notice that «checkmate», stricty speaking, is rarely realized on the chessboard. 5o) End of the game and allocation of points A chess game ends in one of the following ways: i) Checkmate : The side which reaches to «checkmate» the enemy King is said to be the winner of the game ; then it is awarded to him one point. The adverse camp is the loser of the game ; it is awarded to him zero point. This result is noted 1-0 in the case of White's victory and 0-1 in the case of Black's victory. ii) Resignation : Few games, whose some of them are famous, end by a checkmate. Nevertheless, in the great majority of games, a player realising, at a last moment of the game, that he is going to lose, it is usual and fair that he throws in the sponge, in other words that he resigns. This player is the loser of the game ; it is awarded to him zero point. The player of the opposite side is the winner of the game and it is awarded to him one point. This result is noted 1-0 in the case of White's victory and 0-1 in the case of Black's victory. iii) Stalemate : In the exceptional case of stalemate, the game is said a draw and the point of the game is divided and shared alike between the two opponents. This result is noted either : ½–½ or : 0,5–0,5. iv) Draw : More generally, the Draw can result from a stalemate (like it is indicated above), the 50-move rule, the three-time repetition rule, also if neither side has enough material to mate, and finally by adjudication or by agreement between two players. In all this cases the result is indicated either by: ½–½ or by: 0,5–0,5. *** CLASSICAL CHESS THEORY :
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