With the advent of chess puzzles on TuscanyCircle, there seems to be a need for some help for those who either don't know chess or don't know it all yet. Here are some rules to the game; and here is a description of the common notation used to describe the moves of a game.

First, some basics... The board is positioned so a white square is on the lower-right. Queens are started on their own color. White always goes first. A single move in chess is a move of white then a move of black; together, this constitutes one move of the game. Ranks (1-8) are horizontal; files (a-h) are vertical; they start from the lower-left. Pawns have the strangest and probably the largest set of rules for movement, so learn them well (including en passant). Castling also has several restrictions. There are myriad conditions for a draw; the stalemate (a kind of draw) may be to the advantage of an otherwise losing player, if it can be managed.

The best advantage to chess--other than learning warfare tactics--is the ability to anticipate, think ahead, and plan contingencies. Thinking several moves ahead gives a player a significant advantage in chess and in real life. Human nature is quite predictable, both in aggregate and individually. By applying lessons learned from chess, knowledge of human behavior can be used to improve relationships, avoid conflicts and traps, and help others. (It may also be used for nefarious purposes, but the Judge will see to eventual justice.) Chess puzzles can help teach these lessons and train the mind to think beyond the moment. And they're fun!