7 Hidden Chess Rules That Can Change Your Game

Chess is a strategy game, but while most know the basic rules, there are a few lesser-known rules that can change the whole way that game plays out. In fact, it's almost as if these special rules fly under the radar for beginners but can give an experienced player a significant advantage. To go deeper into understanding the game, here comes an opportunity to take up online chess classes that will educate you on such unique rules and improve your skills on that front.

En Passant Rule: En Passant is a rule, and most players- including long-term chess players, have not heard of it. It is a unique pawn capture wherein an opponent advances pawn two squares directly forward from the front rank to reach a position beside one of your pawns. 

Touch Move Rule: The Touch Move rule is applied in over-the-board chess games. When a player touches a piece, they are obligated to move that piece, provided a legal move exists. A player cannot choose to move some other piece unless he earlier announced he was going to adjust the piece that he touched. 

50-Move Draw Rule: The 50-move draw rule strives to eliminate interminable games from which no worthwhile progress is drawn. This particular rule states that if no player captures any pieces and no pawns move on for 50 consecutive moves, either of the parties may declare a draw. The next extension of that rule is that of the 75-move. 

3-Fold Repetition Draw Rule: The 3-fold repetition rule in chess is such that a player can claim a draw in case the same position arises in the game, for example, thrice. These should include identical pieces in the same places and equal rights to castling and en passant. The 3-fold repetition rule avoids forcing a draw through the repetition of moves. 

Under Promotion: Underpromotion takes place when a pawn reaches the eighth rank and is promoted to any piece except the queen. It can be a knight, rook, or bishop. Promotion to a queen is the most common and the most powerful type of underpromotion and can be useful in the following situations: when avoiding a stalemate or when it leads to a more favourable checkmate. 

Castling Rules: Castling is actually a defensive technique that safeguards the King and evolves a rook. However, this is only possible under specific conditions. Before castling could be done, the castling King and the rook would not have been moved, pieces must not intervene between them, and the King to be castled cannot be placed under check. 

Stalemate: In chess, stalemate usually occurs when a player has no legal moves but is not in check. While a checkmate happens when the King is attacked and cannot get away, the stalemate takes place when there are no possible valid moves by the player, but the King remains safe. Stalemate is a valuable tactical resource, showcasing the brilliance of chess by often turning losing positions into surprising draws.

Conclusion

Knowing all the special chess rules will help you enhance your game, as well as increase your strategic options. Whether playing casually or competitively, you will be better off knowing the rules. For more details concerning chess, online chess classes can give one a good head start to getting accustomed to these obscure rules and getting better at chess. Knowing the whole scope of the chess rules is sure to make one a much better player.

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