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How to Visually Teach Yourself Chess

You can use basic visual memorization techniques to teach yourself the game of chess in just a few hours. Chess is played with pawns, rooks, knights, bishops, queens and kings. Each type of chess piece has a specific set of movement rules that govern the way the piece can be moved across the chessboard. Learning to associate the shape and name of each chess piece with its movement options will give you enough understanding to play a game.

Things You'll Need

6 blank index cards (3x5 inches)
Pen

Instructions

- 1
  Write the name and draw an outline image of each type of chess piece on the front of a separate index card.
- 2
  Draw an image on the back of the index card that details the movement possibilities for the chess piece that's on the front of the card. Pawns are able to move two spaces straight ahead from the start position, then move only one space straight ahead on all subsequent moves, but can capture an opposing piece by moving one space ahead on a diagonal. Represent this type of detailed information on the back of each card with an image that uses a few arrows and numbers on a chessboard grid to describe the movement possibilities. See the link in the Resource section for a visual guide to chess and movement diagram ideas.
- 3
  Mix the cards in a random order and quiz yourself on the movement possibilities for each chess piece based on the name and image on the front of the index card. Speak your answers aloud so that you can hear yourself. Move on to the next card if you have difficulty, then come back to the skipped cards at the end to review the front and back thoroughly.
- 4
  Flip the cards over and learn to visualize the chess piece and name based on the descriptive movement arrow images on the back of the card.
- 5
  Continue drilling yourself with the chess piece flash cards until you have fully memorized the rules for all six types on the board.

Chess & Checkers