Originally posted by heinzkat1b - when the pawn leaps 2 squares, another pawn can take it 'mid flight', which is called taking 'en passant'.
What a beginner should know
1 - the pawn moves vertically, but captures left or right. On its first move it may leap two ahead. When the pawn reaches the opposite side of the board, it transforms into a second queen.
2 - the horsie moves like an l.
3 - the king and rook combined may make a fancy move.
4 - start off the game with a pawn in the middle and hope the best of it.
5 - three move repetition = draw.
6 - 50 move draw (also 1 move = 2 halfmoves/plys)
7 - stalemate is not checkmate, it ends the game into a draw.
Originally posted by wormwoodScrap 1b, that only comes later
1b - when the pawn leaps 2 squares, another pawn can take it 'mid flight', which is called taking 'en passant'.
5 - three move repetition = draw.
6 - 50 move draw (also 1 move = 2 halfmoves/plys)
7 - stalemate is not checkmate, it ends the game into a draw.
6 too
5 too, they'll ask when it happens
7 is very important but also maybe better explained once they've walked into it themselves
It is charming to see you all take such an interest in my education ; )
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Look, I'll just add my two cents. I think the space points is a valuable exercise and it definetely adds something to my understanding of the game. i can't speak for all beginners and what everyone needs, but I had a tendency to rush into situations without seeing the big pitcture, Robbie said: "we tend to think in terms only of the pieces and those other pieces which they may capture, not in terms of the space they control." and this definitely applies to me. This points tally allows me to survey the board and recognize both danger and opportunity.
I also want to add that I am simultaneously reading the Nunn book, reading up on tactics on the internet, practicing mate patterns against the rybka engine in Arena, look at openings and I play games against lots of people better than myself (not hard to find) who give me valuable advise. It is not like you have to get all the steps in the right order to learn chess, there are probably as many ways to learn it as there are players...
It is cool to read the suggestions of the debaters though, because I get lots of tips on what to learn *next*, since I didn't learn it *first*
cheers, eirik
Originally posted by smaiaWhich book are you referring to? I only have 'Nunn's Openings' which is incomplete as he only concentrated on some of the openings in that book, unless there is a part two I am unaware of.
John Nunn is one of the best chess writers around. You will enjoy his book much.
Originally posted by sonhouseMaybe, as per title, he only focused on the openings he used.
Which book are you referring to? I only have 'Nunn's Openings' which is incomplete as he only concentrated on some of the openings in that book, unless there is a part two I am unaware of.