This is it. the final shebang. Its over. The end.
Whether or not anyone can hear me; I'd like to say this was fun, but then I'd be lying. Having to remember to post, whether ill or away or preoccupied or working. Better yet remembering to write something, and worse still, trying to find stuff to write about. The whole shorthand thing is the only saving grace of this project, It allows to actually say that I managed to at least try to learn something this summer, and at best that I managed to teach someone else something too.
So if your there, thanks. I know I'm not the most interesting thing to read, nor are my curiosities, and most of you four people that seem to always appear probably found this by accident, and probably not a happy one. Either way I'm glad I did this and that I can be assured that someone looked at it at some point.
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
79
Promotion;
The pawns have an ability to change; if they reach the other side of the board they can become another chess piece, any piece. There is the common misconception that a pawn can only be exchanged for a piece that has been captured, that's not true. A pawn is usually promoted to a queen, and specifically pawns, as they are the only piece capable.
En Passant;
Which is French for "in passing". It applies to when a pawn moves out from its first position, moving two squares, and if it does this and lands side by side with an opposing pawn, meaning that it can;t be captured. Except that it can, by using the "en passant" rule, in the move immediately following the opponents pawn's two square jump move, you can capture it as it passes by.
Castling;
This can allow you to both get your king to safety, and get your rook out of the corner and actually into the game. Its achieved by one player moving the king two squares to one side, followed by the rook moving from that side's corner to the right next to the king on the opposite side he moved. this will only work if its both the kings and the rooks first move, that the king isn't in check and there must be no other pieces in between them.
Check & checkmate;
The whole point of the game. Checkmate is achieved when a king is put in check and cannot get out. there are three ways a king can escape check; by moving, by blocking the check with another piece, or to capture the threatening piece.
The pawns have an ability to change; if they reach the other side of the board they can become another chess piece, any piece. There is the common misconception that a pawn can only be exchanged for a piece that has been captured, that's not true. A pawn is usually promoted to a queen, and specifically pawns, as they are the only piece capable.
En Passant;
Which is French for "in passing". It applies to when a pawn moves out from its first position, moving two squares, and if it does this and lands side by side with an opposing pawn, meaning that it can;t be captured. Except that it can, by using the "en passant" rule, in the move immediately following the opponents pawn's two square jump move, you can capture it as it passes by.
Castling;
This can allow you to both get your king to safety, and get your rook out of the corner and actually into the game. Its achieved by one player moving the king two squares to one side, followed by the rook moving from that side's corner to the right next to the king on the opposite side he moved. this will only work if its both the kings and the rooks first move, that the king isn't in check and there must be no other pieces in between them.
Check & checkmate;
The whole point of the game. Checkmate is achieved when a king is put in check and cannot get out. there are three ways a king can escape check; by moving, by blocking the check with another piece, or to capture the threatening piece.
Monday, 2 September 2013
78
The pieces;
The pawn:
It moves forwards, on their first move they can move up to two spaces, but after that they can only move one square, and despite their ability to only move forward, they capture diagonally, and to the front of them, as they cannot move backwards or sideways. If a piece is directly in front of them they cannot move past, or capture it.
The knight:
Which moves over three squares at a time, two squares in one direction, then another at a 90 degree angle, and are the only pieces that can move over other pieces.
The bishop:
The bishop can move as far as you like, although only in a diagonal direction. The two bishops cover up each others weakness, which is since they start on one colour or another, they can only stay on that colour, due to their diagonal movement.
The rook:
Can move as far as you like, although only in forwards, backwards, or to the sides, if you manage to keep hold of both to the end, they can be powerful pieces in unison.
The queen:
Literally the most powerful piece on the board, she can move in any direction; forwards, backwards, diagonally, or to the sides. As far as you like, until you run into one of your own pieces that is, and if she runs into an opponents piece, she must capture it, and her turn is over on the captured pieces square, like all other pieces.
The king:
Is the complete opposite of the queen, in that although it is the most important, it is the weakest. As the king can only move one square in any direction; forwards, backwards, sideways. The king can't move into a check, that is anywhere he could be captured.
The pawn:
It moves forwards, on their first move they can move up to two spaces, but after that they can only move one square, and despite their ability to only move forward, they capture diagonally, and to the front of them, as they cannot move backwards or sideways. If a piece is directly in front of them they cannot move past, or capture it.
The knight:
Which moves over three squares at a time, two squares in one direction, then another at a 90 degree angle, and are the only pieces that can move over other pieces.
The bishop:
The bishop can move as far as you like, although only in a diagonal direction. The two bishops cover up each others weakness, which is since they start on one colour or another, they can only stay on that colour, due to their diagonal movement.
The rook:
Can move as far as you like, although only in forwards, backwards, or to the sides, if you manage to keep hold of both to the end, they can be powerful pieces in unison.
The queen:
Literally the most powerful piece on the board, she can move in any direction; forwards, backwards, diagonally, or to the sides. As far as you like, until you run into one of your own pieces that is, and if she runs into an opponents piece, she must capture it, and her turn is over on the captured pieces square, like all other pieces.
The king:
Is the complete opposite of the queen, in that although it is the most important, it is the weakest. As the king can only move one square in any direction; forwards, backwards, sideways. The king can't move into a check, that is anywhere he could be captured.
Sunday, 1 September 2013
77
The white time player always goes first, the decision about who should play as white depends on the two persons who are playing; either flip a coin, a game of rock, paper, scissors, etc. The players then alternate turns until the end.
Each piece of the two teams move differently to each other, and you should note that pieces cannot move through other pieces, or onto a square with any of your own pieces on; except the knight who can jump over them. The aim with moving your pieces is to either defend your own pieces or gain control of important squares, or to capture your opponents pieces.
To capture a piece you simply replace them with your own.
Strategy wise you need to play and practise and take a look at the rules to discover your own methods, although each match is not going to play out like in any strategy books as no situation is going to be exactly the same.
However here are some basic rules to strategy to guide yourself by;
no.1 - Protect your king.
You should attempt to get your king to a corner as soon as. It doesn't matter how close you are to checkmating your opponent if you're checkmated first.
no.2 - Don't give pieces away.
Not if you can help it. As each piece is worth something and is important, as you can't win a game with no pieces to checkmate the opponent with. The system I was told to keep track of the value of each piece was; a pawn is 1, a knight is 3, a bishop is 3, a rook is 5, a queen is 9 and the king in infinite. The value isn't involved with anything aside your own understanding of what you are throwing away with a bad move, or if a piece gets taken.
no.3 - Control the centre.
If you control the centre you will have the most room to move your pieces around and will restrict your opponent from being able to do the same.
no.4 - Use every piece.
Your pieces are to be used, you should try and move all your pieces around, don't reserve any of them. That way you have more opportunities to attack the king, only using one or two won't work against a practised player.
Each piece of the two teams move differently to each other, and you should note that pieces cannot move through other pieces, or onto a square with any of your own pieces on; except the knight who can jump over them. The aim with moving your pieces is to either defend your own pieces or gain control of important squares, or to capture your opponents pieces.
To capture a piece you simply replace them with your own.
Strategy wise you need to play and practise and take a look at the rules to discover your own methods, although each match is not going to play out like in any strategy books as no situation is going to be exactly the same.
However here are some basic rules to strategy to guide yourself by;
no.1 - Protect your king.
You should attempt to get your king to a corner as soon as. It doesn't matter how close you are to checkmating your opponent if you're checkmated first.
no.2 - Don't give pieces away.
Not if you can help it. As each piece is worth something and is important, as you can't win a game with no pieces to checkmate the opponent with. The system I was told to keep track of the value of each piece was; a pawn is 1, a knight is 3, a bishop is 3, a rook is 5, a queen is 9 and the king in infinite. The value isn't involved with anything aside your own understanding of what you are throwing away with a bad move, or if a piece gets taken.
no.3 - Control the centre.
If you control the centre you will have the most room to move your pieces around and will restrict your opponent from being able to do the same.
no.4 - Use every piece.
Your pieces are to be used, you should try and move all your pieces around, don't reserve any of them. That way you have more opportunities to attack the king, only using one or two won't work against a practised player.