A Beginners Guide to Learning Chess (Version for ages 12 and Under) By Ralph E. Bowman Author of A Beginner’s Guide to Coaching Scholastic Chess available free at http://main.uschess.org/images/stories/scholastic_chess_resources/a_beginners_guide_to_coachi ng_scholastic_chess.pdf With editorial assistance from Nancy Sherman Copyright © 2008 Table of Contents Chapter 1 - The Pieces ................................................................................................................... 4 The Pawn ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Practice 1 .............................................................................................................................................................. 6 Practice 2 .............................................................................................................................................................. 6 The Rook ................................................................................................................................................. 7 Practice 3 .............................................................................................................................................................. 7 The Knight .............................................................................................................................................. 8 Practice 4 .............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Practice 5 .............................................................................................................................................................. 9 The Bishop ............................................................................................................................................... 9 Practice 6 ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 Practice 7 ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 The Queen ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Practice 8 ............................................................................................................................................................ 11 Practice 9 ............................................................................................................................................................ 11 The King ................................................................................................................................................ 11 Practice 10 .......................................................................................................................................................... 12 Practice 11 .......................................................................................................................................................... 12 Practice 12 .......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Test 1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 13 Test 2 ...................................................................................................................................................... 14 Exercise 1 ........................................................................................................................................................... 14 Exercise 2 ........................................................................................................................................................... 15 Exercise 3 ........................................................................................................................................................... 15 Exercise 4 ........................................................................................................................................................... 16 Exercise 5 ........................................................................................................................................................... 16 Test 3 ...................................................................................................................................................... 17 Exercise 6 ........................................................................................................................................................... 17 Exercise 7 ........................................................................................................................................................... 18 Exercise 8 ........................................................................................................................................................... 18 Exercise 9 ........................................................................................................................................................... 19 Test 4 ...................................................................................................................................................... 19 Exercise 10 ......................................................................................................................................................... 20 Exercise 11 ......................................................................................................................................................... 20 Exercise 12 ......................................................................................................................................................... 21 Test 1 Answers ...................................................................................................................................... 21 Test 2 Answers ...................................................................................................................................... 22 Exercise 1: .......................................................................................................................................................... 22 Exercise 2: .......................................................................................................................................................... 22 Exercise 3: .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 Exercise 4: .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 Exercise 5: .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 Test 3 Answers ...................................................................................................................................... 23 Exercise 6: .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 1 Exercise 7: .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 Exercise 8: .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 Exercise 9: .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 Test 4 Suggestions ................................................................................................................................. 23 Exercise 10: ........................................................................................................................................................ 24 Exercise 11: ........................................................................................................................................................ 24 Exercise 12: ........................................................................................................................................................ 24 Chapter 2 - Checkmating Your Opponent .................................................................................. 25 Test 5 ...................................................................................................................................................... 26 Test 6 ...................................................................................................................................................... 27 Exercise 1 ........................................................................................................................................................... 27 Exercise 2 ..........................................................................................................................................................