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WHAT IS CHESS?
Each player has an identical army that starts on each side of the board. Each piece can only move in a certain direction. If it lands on the same space as an opposing piece, the opposing piece is removed from the board. The aim of the game is to put the opponent's King piece in a position where it cannot avoid being taken (ie it can't move anywhere without being under threat).
KING
It can move one space in any direction
QUEEN
It can move any number of spaces in any direction (forward, back, side to side, or diagonal - but not through other pieces).
BISHOP
It can move any number of spaces in any diagonal direction.
ROOK
They can move in any non-diagonal direction any number of spaces.
PAWN
They can move straight ahead one space, straight ahead two spaces (if they move for the first time), or diagonally forward to attack an opposing piece. They can only attack moving pieces diagonally, not straight ahead. If a pawn manages to get to the opposite side of the board, it gets upgraded into a different piece like a Queen.
KNIGHT
They move 2 steps in one direction, then one step at 90 degrees (so they make an L shape). Unlike all other pieces, they can move past other pieces in the way (I.e. they can jump over other pieces).