Q1: What happens when either player notices a King in check and the game continues?
In a friendly game, take the game back to the position where the illegal move occurred.
The 'touch move' rule, if you're using it, applies at that point.
If the position can't be reinstated, cancel the current game and start a new game. If the
game is already over, the result stands.
In a tournament game, consult the director. The ruling should be impartial and supported
by the director's rule book.
Q2: What happens if the King is not in check but every move leaves it in check?
This is called stalemate. The game is over, it's a draw, so each player gets 1/2 point.
Stalemate is a common defensive tactic in endgames.
Q3: What's the 50-move rule?
If a game continues 50 moves without a Pawn move or a capture, the game is drawn. That
means 50 moves for White and 50 moves for Black.
In recent years the rules have been changed to allow more than 50 moves when certain material
is left on the board. This is because computers have discovered endgame positions which are a theoretical win, but which take
more than 50 moves against the best defense. These positions are very rare and are not likely to occur in your games. Unless
you are playing in a tournament where the director has specified rules for these special positions, use the 50-move rule.
Q4: Does En Passant only happen on the 5th row or can it happen anywhere?
A Pawn can only move 'en passant' ('e.p.') when on its own 5th rank. In essence, it
pretends that an enemy Pawn moving for the first time has just advanced one rank instead of two.
The e.p. option is available for one move only. If not used on the first opportunity, it
disappears.
The usual rules of legal moves apply. For example, a Pawn can't capture e.p. if it leaves
its own King in check.
Q5: What's the trick to memorize openings, especially replies to opponents moves?
The trick is : don't memorize anything. Learn the whys and the wherefores.
The moves that aren't played are just as important as those that are played. Why, in this
opening, is the Bishop always developed to one of the same two squares? Why, in that opening, is the Queen placed on b3(b6)
and not on e2(e7)? Why, in another opening, doesn't White castle Kingside as soon as possible?
The order in which moves are played is also important. One guideline is to play your obvious
moves first. If the King's Knight can only move to one square, then move it to that square. This will let you see one more
move by your opponent, giving you one more clue as to how you should develop the rest of your pieces. Other than that, there
are no trick!
Q6: How can I improve my opening play?
One key to a better opening is to start planning your game on the first move. The plan
is not a 'middle game thing'; it's a 'whole game thing.
Don't play the first 10 moves at blitz speed and then start thinking about a plan. Start
thinking about your plan as soon as your opponent makes an unfamiliar move, if not sooner.
You have eight pieces to develop. You also have to move at least two Pawns, one to develop
each Bishop. That means that you should be able to complete your development in 10-12 moves. You have to think about the following
during those moves:
Your minor pieces will each have 1-2 reasonable development squares;
Your Rooks will probably end up on the c-, d-, e-, or f-files, perhaps doubled;
Your Queen must be placed both actively and safely : no, that's not a contradiction!; and
Your King must be placed as safely as possible.
At the same time, you have to anticipate what your opponent, who is working with the same
problems, will be doing.
Q7: How many openings should I learn? Which ones? Which 3-4 would you suggest?
As White, play 1.e4. Most experts recommend this for beginners as the best way to learn
tactics.
As Black, answer 1.e4 with 1...e5, 1.d4 with 1...d5, and 1.c4 with 1...c5. You can also
answer both 1.d4 and 1.c4 with 1...Nf6, which tends to lead to the same variations for both first moves by White.
When you feel that a particular opening leads to positions that don't suit your style, try
something else. Substitute 1.d4 for 1.e4 as White, or 1...c5 for 1...e5 when facing 1.e4 as Black.
When you find that you have trouble with a particular opening, try playing it from the other
side. If, for example, you get bad games as White after 1.e4 e6, play 1...e6 yourself when facing 1.e4. You'll quickly learn
that playing the French has disadvantages as well as advantages.
Q8: What's the most important thing about the opening?
The principles of opening play follow the general principles for positional play : Keep
the pieces active, control the center, consider King safety, etc. etc.
Q9: My middle game is not as good as it could be. Do you have any tips?
Work on puzzles to improve your ability to calculate tactical sequences. You'll find
these in books, in magazines, and on the Web.
Play through games annotated by masters to learn more about positional play. You'll find
these in the same sources. Look for positions which are described verbally rather than by a tangle of long variations. Those
verbal descriptions explain the logic of the position.
Study endgames to get help on selecting the best transitions from the middle game to the
endgame.
Q10: Can you recommend some good instructional sites?
The sites that are best for you depend on how well you already play. Beginners and intermediates
don't have the same instructional needs.
Download and register at www.worldchessnetwork.com
and play chess online here! You can chat and make new friends from all over the world at the same time. WCN also gives free
tips and tutorials in the chat bar from time to time.
Or play chess immediately at http://www.instantchess.com
No registration or download required. The first 64 chess games absolutely free!
Or go to http://games.yahoo.com/ and click
on CHESS under BOARD GAMES if you're a yahooligan!
Or go to search engine www.google.com and type
play chess online for wider options.
