Platform Rules & Code of Conduct
How to Play Chess - Beginner's Guide
New to chess? Learn the fundamentals of the world's most popular strategy game.
Board Setup
Chess is played on an 8×8 board with 64 squares that alternate between light and dark colours.
- Board Position: Place the board with a light square in the bottom-right corner
- Queen Placement: "Queen on her colour" - White queen on light square, Black queen on dark square
- Starting Position: Each player starts with 16 pieces
- Files & Ranks: Columns are called "files" (a-h), rows are called "ranks" (1-8)
Game Objective
The goal is to checkmate your opponent's king - attack it so it cannot escape.
- Check: When the king is under attack
- Checkmate: When the king is in check and has no legal moves
- Stalemate: When a player has no legal moves but isn't in check (draw)
- Draw: Game ends in a tie (various conditions)
How Chess Pieces Move
Pawn (8 each)
- Moves forward one square
- Can move two squares on first move
- Captures diagonally forward
- Promotes to any piece when reaching end
Rook (2 each)
- Moves any distance horizontally or vertically
- Cannot jump over pieces
- Worth approximately 5 points
Knight (2 each)
- Moves in "L" shape: 2+1 squares
- Only piece that can jump over others
- Worth approximately 3 points
Bishop (2 each)
- Moves diagonally any distance
- Cannot jump over pieces
- Worth approximately 3 points
Queen (1 each)
- Most powerful piece
- Combines rook and bishop moves
- Worth approximately 9 points
King (1 each)
- Moves one square in any direction
- Most important piece - losing it ends the game
- Cannot move into check
Special Moves
Castling
- King and rook move simultaneously
- King moves 2 squares toward rook
- Rook moves to square king crossed
- Neither king nor rook can have moved
- No pieces between them
- King cannot be in check
En Passant
- Special pawn capture
- Opponent's pawn moves 2 squares
- Your pawn can capture "in passing"
- Must be done immediately
Essential Tips
- Control the Centre: Place pawns and pieces in the middle
- Develop Pieces: Bring knights and bishops into the game early
- King Safety: Castle early to protect your king
- Think Before Moving: Consider your opponent's threats
- Count Material: Don't trade valuable pieces for less valuable ones
- Practice Tactics: Learn common patterns and combinations
Ready to Play? Once you understand these basics, you can start playing!
Remember that chess is a game of practice - even grandmasters started as beginners.
Consider playing practice games before entering tournaments with prize money.
Advanced Chess Rules
All competitive games on this platform follow standard FIDE chess rules.
Basic Rules
- Games follow FIDE Laws of Chess
- Touch-move rule applies in rated games
- Castling requires king and rook to be unmoved
- En passant capture available immediately after pawn's two-square move
- Stalemate results in a draw
- Threefold repetition results in a draw
- 50-move rule without pawn move or capture results in a draw
Time Controls
- Blitz: 5 minutes or less per player
- Rapid: 10-60 minutes per player
- Classical: 60+ minutes per player
- Increment time added after each move when specified
- Running out of time results in immediate loss
- Insufficient material + time forfeit = draw
Game Results
Win Conditions
- Checkmate
- Opponent resignation
- Time forfeit
- Opponent disconnection (after timeout)
Draw Conditions
- Mutual agreement
- Stalemate
- Threefold repetition
- 50-move rule
- Insufficient material
Special Cases
- Technical issues may result in game annulment
- Disputes resolved by platform moderators
- Rating adjustments for confirmed cheating
Code of Conduct
Professional behaviour is required at all times on this platform.
Expected Behaviour
- Treat all players with respect and courtesy
- Play fairly and honestly at all times
- Accept wins and losses gracefully
- Use appropriate language in all communications
- Report suspected cheating or misconduct
- Maintain professional standards befitting serious chess players
- Honour financial commitments and tournament entries
- Provide accurate personal and chess credentials
Prohibited Behaviour
- Abusive, offensive, or discriminatory language
- Harassment of other players
- Unsporting conduct or poor sportsmanship
- Spam or excessive messaging
- Creating multiple accounts
- Sharing account credentials
- Deliberately losing games (sandbagging)
- False reporting of technical issues
Enforcement
Violations may result in:
Warning
Formal caution for minor infractions
Temporary Suspension
1-30 days ban from games and chat
Rating Adjustment
Correction for unfair rating manipulation
Permanent Ban
Complete removal from platform
Anti-Cheating Policy
We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards cheating to protect the integrity of competitive play.
What Constitutes Cheating
Engine Assistance
- Using chess engines (Stockfish, Komodo, etc.)
- Computer analysis during games
- Opening books or databases during play
- AI-powered move suggestions
- Any software providing move recommendations
External Assistance
- Receiving advice from other players
- Coaching during games
- Team play in individual games
- Using multiple devices for analysis
Technical Manipulation
- Artificially disconnecting to avoid loss
- Clock manipulation
- Using bots or automated play
- Exploiting software vulnerabilities
- Multiple account coordination
Unfair Practices
- Prearranged results
- Rating manipulation
- Account sharing
- False identity or credentials
- Betting against yourself
Detection Methods
- Statistical Analysis: Move correlation with engines
- Timing Patterns: Unusual think times
- Browser Monitoring: Tab switching detection
- Community Reports: Player submissions
- Expert Review: Manual game analysis
- Pattern Recognition: Behavioral analysis
- Network Analysis: Connection patterns
Consequences
- Immediate: Game forfeiture
- Account: Suspension or permanent ban
- Financial: Prize forfeiture
- Rating: Rating reset or adjustment
- Tournament: Disqualification
- Reporting: May be reported to FIDE
- Legal: Fraud charges for prize tournaments
Fair Play Reminder: This platform is designed for serious chess players who depend on fair competition.
Cheating not only violates our terms but undermines the livelihood of professional players.
We use sophisticated detection methods and work with chess authorities to maintain integrity.
Reporting Violations
How to Report
- Use the report button during games
- Contact moderators via messaging system
- Email: violations@chesswager.co.uk
- Include game links and detailed descriptions
- Provide timestamps of suspicious behaviour
Response Times
- Urgent (active cheating): Within 1 hour
- Standard reports: Within 24 hours
- Complex investigations: 3-7 days
- Appeals: 7-14 days
- All reports investigated thoroughly
Appeals Process
Steps to Appeal
1
Submit Appeal
Email: appeals@chesswager.co.uk within 14 days
2
Review Process
Independent review by different moderator
3
Final Decision
Decision communicated within 14 days
Required Information for Appeals:
- Account username and email
- Specific violation and penalty received
- Detailed explanation of circumstances
- Any supporting evidence
- Contact information for follow-up
Contact & Support
General Inquiries
support@chesswager.co.uk
Violations
violations@chesswager.co.uk
Appeals
appeals@chesswager.co.uk
Last Updated: 25 August 2025
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