Check
Your king is under attack. You must make a legal move that removes the threat. A king can never be left in check.
A good day for a game of chess.
The classic game, on your Windows desktop.
♚ Black piecesOPENING EXPLORER
♔ White pieces
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Explore a classic opening with the arrows. This is a guided demonstration, not a live game.
A classic for a reason.
Chess is a game for two players, played on a board of 64 squares. There is no dice roll and no hidden hand. Every piece is in plain sight. What happens next is up to you.
This is the home of our Windows chess app, and a place to brush up on the game itself. If you are new, start below. If you already know your way around the board, head straight to the download.
64squares on the board
32pieces at the start
1king to protect
How to play chess
The goal is to checkmate your opponent’s king: attack it in a way that leaves no legal escape. You do not actually capture the king.
1
Set up the board
Place a light square in the bottom-right corner. Rooks go in the corners, then knights, then bishops. The queen starts on her own color, with the king beside her. Pawns fill the row in front.
2
Take turns
White moves first, then players alternate one move at a time. You cannot skip a turn, land on your own piece, or make a move that leaves your king in check.
3
Move & capture
Each type of piece moves differently. To capture, move onto a square occupied by an opponent’s piece and remove it. Pawns have a special capture pattern.
4
Protect your king
If your king is attacked, you must deal with the threat immediately: move the king, capture the attacker, or block the attack when possible.
A handy setup reminder“White on the right. Queen on her color.”
Six pieces. Six ways to move.
Select a piece to see its movement pattern on an otherwise empty board.
Move Capture only
Remember
Diagrams show movement patterns, not complete positions. Legal moves must also keep your own king safe. Except for knights, pieces cannot jump over other pieces.
Three special moves to know
Castling
Move your king two squares toward a rook, then place that rook on the square the king crossed. It is the only move that moves two of your pieces at once.
Neither piece may have moved before, and all squares between them must be empty. Your king cannot castle out of check, through an attacked square, or into check.
Pawn promotion
When a pawn reaches the farthest rank, it must become a queen, rook, bishop, or knight of the same color. The choice is yours, even if you still have your original pieces. A queen is usually the strongest choice.
En passant
If an opposing pawn advances two squares from its starting square and lands alongside your pawn, your pawn can capture it as if it had advanced just one square. This is only available on your very next move.
For example: a white pawn on e5 can capture a black pawn that has just moved from d7 to d5 by moving to d6.
Check is a warning. Mate is the finish.
Checkmate
Your king is in check and you have no legal way to escape it. The game is over, and your opponent wins.
Stalemate
You are not in check, but have no legal move with any piece. The game is a draw, regardless of who has more material.
Other ways a game can be drawn +
Players can agree to a draw. A position is also drawn if neither side can possibly checkmate through any legal sequence of moves.
Under standard rules, a player can claim a draw after the same position occurs three times, or after 50 moves by each player without a pawn move or a capture. Five repetitions or 75 such moves by each player produce an automatic draw; checkmate on the final move takes precedence.
Repetition requires the same player to move, the same pieces on the same squares, and the same possible moves, including castling and en passant rights.
Your first few games
You do not need to memorize an opening book. These habits will take you further than a clever trick.
Give your pieces room.
Central pawns help your bishops and queen get into the game. Develop your knights and bishops instead of moving the same piece repeatedly.
Look at your opponent’s last move.
Ask what changed. Is a piece under attack? Is there a check coming? A quick look can prevent an expensive surprise.
Keep your king out of trouble.
Castling often brings the king to a safer place and connects your rooks. Avoid opening the pawns in front of your king without a reason.
Check before you capture.
Count attackers and defenders, then look one move further. Winning a pawn is not much help if you lose a queen in return.
A quick note on notation
K = king · Q = queen · R = rook · B = bishop · N = knight. Pawns have no letter. Nf3 means “knight to f3,” × indicates a capture, + check, and # checkmate. O-O is kingside castling.
Your next game is waiting.
Get the Windows app and make yourself at home on the board.
⊞
Chess for Windows
Windows desktop application
The installer has not been published yet. Please check back for the release.
1. Download the installer2. Follow the setup instructions3. Open Chess
Common questions
Is this a browser game?+
No. This website introduces the Windows app and includes a chess guide. The board at the top is an interactive opening walkthrough; it does not play a full game.
Which Windows versions are supported?+
Supported Windows versions and hardware requirements will be provided with the installer when it is released.
Can a pawn move backwards?+
No. Pawns move forward and capture one square diagonally forward. Once promoted, the new piece follows its own movement rules.
Can the kings stand next to each other?+
No. Each king attacks the squares immediately around it. Moving a king next to the other king would place it in check, which is illegal.
Do I have to say “check”?+
No. Announcing check is not required under standard chess rules. Both players are responsible for recognizing attacks on the king.
Where can I read the complete rules?+
This guide covers the essentials. For the full rules, including tournament procedures, see the FIDE Laws of Chess ↗.