Contents

Preface

1. Basic Rul

The King The Rook The Bishop The Queen The Knight The Pawn

2. Long Live The King!

Check Special kinds of Checks Checkmate Comparative Values When Checkmate is Impossible Pawn Promotion

3. Two More Important Rules

Castling Capturing En Passant

4. How To Record Games

Why Record Games? Chess Notation

5. Drawn Games

Insufficient Mating Material Draw by Agreement The 50-move Rule Threefold Repetition Perpetual Check Stalemate

6. The Chessmen In Action

The Queen The Rook The Bishop The Knight The Pawn

7. How To Spot Combinations and Sacrifices

Simple Attacks Combinations with Sacrifices

8. Traps In The Opening

The Vulnerable King at K1 Attack Against KR7 Trapping Bishops Breaking out of a Pin Unexpected Replies

9. Pointers On Opening Play

Begin with 1 P-K4 Avoid Moving the Same Piece or Pawn Twice Develop Knights Before Bishops Avoid Early Queen Development Castle Early! Control the Center Avoid Excessive Pawn Advances Black's Opening Policy Model Opening Play "Irregular" Defenses Review

10. Fundamental Endgame Positions

King and Pawn Endings Rook and Pawn Endings Other Types of Endings

11. Illustrative Games

12. Chess Etiquette

"Touch-Move" The Gentle Art of Annoying