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. 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.
• 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.
• Trophies – The badges and stars you have won.