The Pawn School

Learn chess from the very first piece. Matt shows the way.

  1. 1. The pawnForward, never back
  2. 2. The rookStraight up and across
  3. 3. The bishopDiagonally across
  4. 4. The queenThe strongest of all
  5. 5. The kingOne step at a time
  6. 6. The knightJumps in an L
  7. 7. CapturingTake your opponent’s pieces
  8. 8. CheckAttack the king
  9. 9. CheckmateCheck with no escape
  10. 10. Your first mateQueen and king
  11. 11. CastlingTwo pieces in one move
  12. 12. En passantThe capture in passing
  13. 13. PromotionThe pawn reaches the top
  14. 14. Beware of stalemateDo not lose the win at the finish
  15. 15. The forkTwo threats at once
  16. 16. The pinThe piece that cannot move
  17. 17. The skewerThe pin turned upside down
  18. 18. The discovered attackMove one, attack with another
  19. 19. The ladder mateTwo rooks, step by step
  20. 20. Back-rank mateTrapped behind its own pawns
  21. 21. Centre firstWhere pieces have the most power
  22. 22. Get the pieces outKnights and bishops first
  23. 23. Castle earlyKing home before the storm
  24. 24. The queen waits at homeDo not send her out too soon
  25. 25. Rook on an open fileGive the rook a clear road
  26. 26. Save the pieceAttacked? Think first
  27. 27. Trade when aheadFewer pieces, bigger lead
  28. 28. The escape hatchInsurance against the back rank
  29. 29. The passed pawnNo pawn can stop it
  30. 30. The rule of the squareCan the king catch it?
  31. 31. Scholar’s mateKnow the trap, avoid the trap
  32. 32. Smothered mateThe king’s own friends block the door
  33. 33. Mate with the queenThe technique that ends the most games
  34. 34. Mate with the rookKings face to face
  35. 35. The fork with checkCheck plus profit