Chess Basics: Learn How the Pieces Move

The easiest way is to play each piece on its own. In Chess Basics you pick a piece and guide it around the board to collect every star in as few moves as possible, so the rook, bishop, queen, king and knight each become automatic before you face a full game.

Yes. It assumes no prior knowledge and teaches one piece at a time through interactive, star-collecting levels - no theory, no notation to memorise first, just how each piece moves.

The knight moves in an L-shape - two squares in one direction then one at a right angle - and is the only piece that can jump over others. The knight levels in Chess Basics make this movement intuitive by having you route it to every star.

Yes, it is completely free and needs no account. It runs in your browser and your progress is saved on your device.

Once the pieces feel natural, drill the board coordinates with the Coordinate Trainer, train board vision with Knightdoku, and practise basic checkmates and endgames in Practice. They are all free and linked from the Chess training tools page.