1.

[Now let's learn about the king. The king is the most valuable piece in the game, because if we lose him, it's all over. The goal in chess is to capture the enemy king while providing sufficient protection to your own king; but despite its precious nature, the king is not terribly mobile. 

  In this position, the white king on E5 can move to all of these squares. It's easy to remember how the king moves. It can move one square in any direction, as long as that square isn't defended by an enemy piece. So here the white king can move to any of these squares. In this position, with a king on C2, the king can move to these squares. So remember, a king can move diagonally, horizontally, or vertically, one square whenever it wants to.

  In the beginning of the game, we want to keep the king safe, protect him behind a phalanx of pawns; but later, when there is less danger lurking, we can use the king actively. With its dependable pattern of motion, the king can be a very powerful short range warrior. It's critical to learn how to judge when the appropriate time is to activate the king. I'll develop this in the End Game section of the course.

{B:rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/32/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR}{H:e1e8}{D:2000}{B:4k3/48/4K3}{H:e1e8}{W:j15b01}{B:24/4K3/32}{D:3000}{Y:0}{H2:d4d5d6e4e6f4f5f6}{A:Te5d4}{A:Te5d5}{A:Te5d6}{A:Te5e4}{A:Te5e6}{A:Te5f4}{A:Te5f5}{A:Te5f6}{Y:1}{D:3000}{R}{D:11000}{B:48/2K5/8}{D:4200}{H2:b1b2b3c1c3d1d2d3}{D:2800}{C}{D:1400}{H:b1b3d1d3}{A:Tc2b1}{A:Tc2b3}{A:Tc2d1}{A:Tc2d3}{D:1000}{R}{H:b2d2}{H2:b1b3d1d3}{R}{A:Tc2b2}{A:Tc2d2}{D:900}{H:c1c3}{H2:b2d2}{R}{A:Tc2c1}{A:Tc2c3}{D:900}{H2:c1c3}{R}{W:j15b02}{W:sil500}{C}{R}{B:48/5PPP/6K1}{D:3000}{H:f2g2h2}{D:2000}{C}{D:4000}{S:h2h4}{D:200}{S:g1h2}{D:200}{S:g2g3}{D:200}{S:f2f3}{D:200}{S:h2h3}{D:200}{S:g3g4}{D:200}{S:h4h5}{D:200}{S:h3h4}{D:200}{S:g4g5}{D:200}{S:h5h6}{D:200}{S:h5g6}{D:200}{S:g6g7}{W:j15b03}

]

2.

[So you know how the king moves. We also know that the goal in chess is to capture the king. Whenever the king is threatened, it's called "check". In this position, if white plays the pawn from E4 to E5 - we know that pawns capture diagonally - the black king is in check. This is marked with a "+" mark, by the way, in notation. So here this would be E5, check. The black king would have to move, and we can see that the black king could move to E6, E7, D7, C7, or C6. The black king couldn't move to C5 or D5 or capture on E5, because the white king defends those squares. It's an illegal move for a king to ever move to a square where it can be captured. This is called, check.

{B:8/8/3k4/8/3KP3/8/8/8 w}{D:10000}{S:e4e5}{D:2000}{A:Ce5d6}{D:1500}{H:d6}{D:9500}{D:1700}{S:d6e6}{H2:e6}{D:800}{S:e6d6}{D:400}{S:d6e7}{H2:e7}{D:700}{S:e7d6}{D:300}{S:d6d7}{H2:d7}{D:700}{S:d7d6}{D:300}{S:d6c7}{H2:c7}{D:700}{S:c7d6}{D:300}{S:d6c6}{H2:c6}{D:700}{S:c6d6}{D:1300}{H:c5}{D:500}{H:d5}{D:1500}{H:e5}{D:1500}{A:Gd4e5}{A:Gd4d5}{A:Gd4c5}{W:j15b04}{C}{R}

]

3.

[So, when you're in check, you can just move out of the way. The real goal in chess is "check mate." In this position, white can play E7, which is check mate. The black king is attacked, but it can't move anywhere. The C8 and E8 squares are defended by the white D7 pawn. The E7 pawn of white attacks the black king, and the white king defends that pawn - defends the D7 pawn - and also guards the C7 square. Black can't go anywhere. This is called check mate. This is your goal in chess.

{B:3k4/3P4/3KP3/8/8/8/8/8 w}{D:7000}{S:e6e7}{D:3500}{A:Ce7d8}{D:1500}{R}{D:1000}{H:c8}{D:1000}{H:e8}{D:1000}{A:Td7c8}{A:Td7e8}{D:3500}{A:Ce7d8}{H:d8}{D:2500}{A:Gd6e7}{H:e7}{D:1000}{A:Gd6d7}{H:d7}{D:2000}{A:Td6c7}{H:c7}{D:1000}{R}{W:j15b05}{C}

]

4.

[There's one more way for the game to end. In this position, it's white's move. What can you do? Well, any answer you gave would have to be wrong, because there's no square you can move to. C1 and E1 are guarded by the black D2 pawn. E2, D2, and C2 are guarded by the black king. So in fact white can't move anywhere, but white's not in check. This is called "stale mate." The game is drawn.

{B:8/8/8/8/8/3k4/3p4/3K4}{D:11000}{H:c1}{D:500}{H:e1}{D:1200}{A:Td2c1}{A:Td2e1}{D:1300}{H:e2}{D:400}{H:d2}{D:800}{H:c2}{D:1600}{A:Td3c2}{A:Td3e2}{A:Gd3d2}{D:1700}{R}{W:j15b06}{C}

]

5.

[So we know, if we attack the king, it's check. The king can move away. If we attack the king and the king can't go anywhere, that's check mate. The game is over, and the player who delivered the check mate wins. Stale mate is when you cannot make any legal moves with your king, but you are not in check. The game is drawn.

{B:8/8/3k4/8/3KP3/8/8/8 w}{D:500}{S:e4e5}{D:500}{A:Ce5d6}{H:d6}{D:2500}{C}{R}{S:d6c7}{D:2000}{B:3k4/3P4/3KP3/8/8/8/8/8 w}{D:500}{S:e6e7}{D:300}{A:Ce7d8}{D:1000}{H:c7c8d7d8e7e8}{D:2300}{R}{D:1400}{C}{D:2000}{B:8/8/8/8/8/3k4/3p4/3K4 w}{D:3000}{H:c1c2d2e2e1}{W:j15b07}{C}{R}

]

6.

[

{B:8/1p6/5p2/3K4/8/1k6/8/8 w}{IJ:Now let's do some exercises to get used to king moves.

Here, touch all the squares the white king can legally move to.{W:j15b08}; 

c5d4d6e4e6;That's right! Remember, the king can never move into a position where it can be captured. {W:thatsright}{W:sil500}{W:j15b09};

There are more ... ;

This square is too far. Your king can't move here.;

d5:Click only on the destination squares.;

e5:Are you sure this square is safe?;

c6:Are you sure this square is safe?;

c4:This square seems to be protected by the black king;

The king can move in any direction, one square at a time and cannot be moved into danger.

}

]

7.

[In this exercise, white's in check. What do you think the best move is?

{B:8/8/4k3/5p2/3pK3/8/8/8 w}{V:{SAVE}In this exercise, white's in check. What do you think the best move is?

  {D:1700}{A:Cf5e4}{H:e4}{W:j15b10}{C};

$The white king can capture the D4 pawn. Of course, taking the F5 pawn is bad, because it puts the king in danger.

  {C}{R}{S:e4d4}

  {D:2000}{S:d4e4}{P:BPd4}

  {D:1000}{S:e4f5}{A:Ce6f5}{W:j15b11}{W:sil1000}{J}

$e4d4;Good job. The white king can capture the D4 pawn. Of course, taking the F5 pawn is bad, because it puts the king in danger.

  {R}{C}{W:gg}{W:sil500}

  {D:2000}{S:d4e4}{P:BPd4}

  {D:1000}{S:e4f5}{A:Ce6f5}

  {W:j15b11}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect.{C}{R}{W:notquiteright}{RETRY};

e4d3:$c There is a better move.{C}{R}{W:j15b19}{RETRY};

e4f3:$c There is a better move.{C}{R}{W:j15b19}{RETRY};

e4f4:$c There is a better move.{C}{R}{W:j15b19}{RETRY};

The king can move in any direction,  one square at a time and cannot be moved into danger.

}

]

8.

[Here the white king is in check. What is white's only legal move?

{B:8/8/8/2p2p2/2Pp2p1/4K1p1/2k1P1P1/8 w}{V:Here the white king is in check. What is white's only legal move?

  {W:j15b12};

e3f4;Good job! The only unprotected square is f4!{W:j15b13};

Incorrect. The king cannot be moved into danger.;

The king can move in any direction,  one square at a time and cannot be moved into danger}

]

9.

[Here white is in check. What's the best move?

{B:4k3/3pP3/2P1K3/8/8/8/8/8 w}{V:{SAVE}Here white is in check. What's the best move?

  {D:1000}{A:Cd7e6}{W:j15b14};

$It turns out that white can get out of check and check mate with the same move. By capturing the black pawn with your pawn, you've placed the black king in check mate. 

  {R}{D:4000}{S:c6d7}

  {H:d8e8f8f7}{A:Cd7e8}{A:Te7f8}{A:Te7d8}

  {A:Ge6e7}{A:Ge6d7}{A:Te6f7}

  {W:j15b15}{W:sil1000}{J}

$c6d7;Good job. It turns out that white can get out of check and check mate with the same move. By capturing the black pawn with your pawn, you've placed the black king in check mate. 

  {R}{W:gg}{W:sil500}

  {D:4000}

  {H:d8e8f8f7}{A:Cd7e8}{A:Te7f8}{A:Te7d8}

  {A:Ge6e7}{A:Ge6d7}{A:Te6f7}

  {W:j15b15}{W:sil1000}{J};

$c Incorrect. Your king is in check and the threat must be removed.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};

e6d6:$c That's a good move, but you have better.{W:j15b19}{RETRY};

e6f6:$c That's a good move, but you have better.{W:j15b19}{RETRY};

e6d5:$c That's a good move, but you have better.{W:j15b19}{RETRY};

e6e5:$c That's a good move, but you have better.{W:j15b19}{RETRY};

e6f5:$c That's a good move, but you have better.{W:j15b19}{RETRY};

Try to think of a way to eliminate the threat to your king by capturing a piece.}

]

10.

[In this position, it's white's move. I'd like you to take a moment and think it out. Stale mate is a theme here. White to play.

{B:3k4/3P4/8/4K3/8/8/8/8 w}{V:{SAVE}In this position, it's white's move. I'd like you to take a moment and think it out. Stale mate is a theme here. White to play.

  {W:j15b16};

$By moving your king to E6, you've forced the black king to move to C7, and you can now play king E7, followed by promoting your pawn on D8. Black will eventually lose.

  {D:500}{S:e5e6}

  {D:500}{H:e7e8d8c8}{A:Ge6d7}{A:Td7e8}{A:Td7c8}{A:Te6e7}

  {D:2000}{S:d8c7}

  {D:1500}{C}{R}{S:e6e7}{H:c8d8e8d6}

    {A:Te7d6}{A:Td7e8}{A:Td7c8}{A:Te7d8}{A:Ge7d7}

  {D:1500}{S:c7c6}{C}{R}{S:d7d8}{X:d8}{P:WQd8}

  {W:j15b17}{W:sil1000}

$e5e6;Good job. By moving your king to E6, you've forced the black king to move to C7, and you can now play king E7, followed by promoting your pawn on D8. Black will eventually lose.

  {W:goodjob}{W:sil500}

  {D:1000}{H:e7e8d8c8}{A:Ge6d7}{A:Td7e8}{A:Td7c8}{A:Te6e7}

  {D:2000}{S:d8c7}

  {D:1500}{C}{R}{S:e6e7}{H:c8d8e8d6}

    {A:Te7d6}{A:Td7e8}{A:Td7c8}{A:Te7d8}{A:Ge7d7}

  {D:1500}{S:c7c6}{C}{R}{S:d7d8}{X:d8}{P:WQd8}

  {W:j15b17}{W:sil1000};

$c Incorrect. Your goal is to check the black king.{W:j15b19}{RETRY};

e5d6:$c No, that's not right. You've stalemated black. The game is drawn.

  {D:1500}{H:c8c7d7e7e8}

  {A:Td7e8}{A:Td7c8}{A:Td6e7}{A:Td6c7}{A:Gd6d7}

  {W:j15b18}{RETRY};

e5d5:$c That's a good move, but you have better.{W:notbest}{RETRY};

e5d4:$c That's a good move, but you have better.{W:notbest}{RETRY};

e5e4:$c That's a good move, but you have better.{W:notbest}{RETRY};

e5f4:$c That's a good move, but you have better.{W:notbest}{RETRY};

e5f5:$c That's a good move, but you have better.{W:notbest}{RETRY};

e5f6:$c That's a good move, but you have better.{W:notbest}{RETRY};

Sometimes a stalemate is not as good as trying to check your opponents king. Think about this as you plan your move.}

]

