Learn chess, one piece at a time

MiniChess is a free site for children who are just starting chess. Instead of a full game, it teaches one thing at a time: how each piece moves, how to plan a few moves ahead, and finally how to checkmate.

Start with the movement puzzles. Each one puts a single piece on the board with a goal square to reach and a few walls in the way. Solve it in the fewest moves and you'll know that piece for life.

Then try the mini games. They use only a couple of pieces each, so the rules stay small, but you play against a computer opponent that gets tougher as you level up. When you are ready for real chess, the army games give you every piece against a computer with only a few. Everything also works on a phone or tablet, and there is an Android app on Google Play.

• How the king moves – One square in any direction.
• How the queen moves – Straight or diagonal, as far as you like.
• How the rook moves – Straight lines, as far as you like.
• How the bishop moves – Diagonals only.
• How the knight moves – The L-shaped jump.
• How the pawn moves – Forward one step at a time.
• What can the king take? – Tap every piece the king could capture.
• What can the queen take? – Eight lines, stop at the first piece.
• What can the rook take? – Straight lines, and what hides behind.
• What can the bishop take? – Diagonals, one colour only.
• What can the knight take? – The L-jump, nothing blocks it.
• What can the pawn take? – Sideways, never straight ahead.
• Which kings attack the pawn? – The eight squares around a king.
• Which queens attack the king? – Lines and diagonals, up to the first piece.
• Which rooks attack the king? – Rows and columns, and what blocks them.
• Which bishops attack the king? – Diagonals, one colour only.
• Which knights attack the king? – The L-jump, from eight squares.
• Which pawns attack the king? – Downward and sideways, never straight.
• Radioactive Pooping Knights – Don't get trapped by the poop.
• Kings vs Knight – Catch the knight with three kings.
• Knight vs Kings – Survive 15 moves against three kings.
• Lonely Knight – Get a pawn past the knight.
• Rook vs 5 Pawns – Get a pawn past the rook.
• Pawn Wars – Eight pawns each. Get one to the other side.
• Pawns vs 2 Bishops – Get one pawn past two bishops.
• 2 Bishops vs Pawns – Stop eight pawns with two bishops.
• Checkmate with King and Queen – Real chess, real engine.
• Checkmate with King and Rook – The trickier one.
• Checkmate with King and 2 Rooks – Learn the ladder mate.
• Army vs Knight – Your whole army against a knight and its pawns.
• Army vs 2 Knights – Two jumping knights to catch.
• Army vs Bishop – One bishop, one colour of squares.
• Army vs 2 Bishops – Two bishops cover every diagonal.
• Army vs Rook – Keep the rook off your back rank.
• Army vs 2 Rooks – Two rooks, and Black can castle.
• Army vs Queen – Beat the most powerful piece with teamwork.
• Army vs Knight + Bishop – Two minor pieces working together.
• Army vs Knight, Bishop + Rook – Nearly a real game. Play carefully.
• Army vs Knight, Bishop, Rook + Queen – The closest thing to a full game of chess.
• Trophies – The badges and stars you have won.