Welcome back. Perhaps you'd like to tell me what you'd like me to call you this lesson.
Tell me, kiddo, how did you get on with the questions about the armies?

It was easy - I got every question right


I got most questions right but couldn't remember everything

I still can't remember the names of the pieces and where they start
To continue your training you are going to find out more about each type of soldier, and to take the part of each one in a battle.

How do you feel about that, kiddo?


I'll quit now - I don't want to be killed

I'll quit now - I don't like killing people

It's not a real battle so I'll have a go
First up you're going to train to join the INFANTRY - the foot soldiers of the army.

You'll find out what they can do and then take part in some battles.

Do you remember what we call the INFANTRY in our army?

They're called PRAWNS
They're called PAWNS

And how many does each army start with?

Each army starts with EIGHT foot soldiers
Each army starts with TEN foot soldiers
Here's a PAWN on the battlefield.

What it does is very simple.

It moves up the board one square at a time

So this PAWN standing on e3 can move forward to e4.
Here's another PAWN on the battlefield.

This one is on its starting square - d2.

If a PAWN is on its starting square it has a choice.

It can either move ONE SQUARE FORWARD or TWO SQUARES FORWARD.

So this PAWN can move either to d3 or to d4.
You see these two PAWNS here?

They're stuck.

Neither of them can move.

They are both blocking each other's way.

Remember this - it's important!

Now look at this.

This is EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

A PAWN can KILL (TAKE or CAPTURE) an enemy soldier (PIECE) by moving ONE SQUARE DIAGONALLY FORWARD.

In this position the WHITE PAWN on f4 can CAPTURE the BLACK PAWN on g5.

Or, if it's BLACK'S turn, the BLACK PAWN on g5 can CAPTURE the WHITE PAWN on f4.

When you make a capture your piece moves onto the square occupied by the enemy piece and you take it off the board.
Tell me this, kiddo.
Where would you find the WHITE PAWN THAT CAN MOVE FORWARD TWO SQUARES?

b5 c2 d5 f3 g6
Where would you find the WHITE PAWN THAT COULD TAKE TWO ENEMY PAWNS?

b5 c2 d5 f3 g6
Where would you find the WHITE PAWN THAT COULD TAKE ONLY ONE ENEMY PAWN?

b5 c2 d5 f3 g6
Where would you find the WHITE PAWN THAT HAS ONLY ONE POSSIBLE MOVE?

b5 c2 d5 f3 g6
Where would you find the WHITE PAWN THAT CANNOT MOVE AT ALL?

b5 c2 d5 f3 g6
You now know how the infantry move, and how they kill enemy soldiers.

You'll soon be ready to join the inantry and fight your first battle.

The name of this battle is CAPTURE THE FLAG.

The rules are simple. The infantry start in their starting positions - White on the second RANK and Black on the seventh RANK.

There is a flag at either end of the board.

The winner is the first army to get a pawn to the end of the board and CAPTURE THE FLAG.

If you reach a position where it's your turn but you can't move any of your pawns the result is a DRAW.
Don't forget the two main rules of battle:

WHITE MAKES THE FIRST MOVE

THE ARMIES TAKE IT IN TURNS TO MOVE

Are you ready to join the infantry?



No - I don't like playing rough games

No - I don't understand how the pawns move

Yes - but can I see an example first?
Yes, I agree.

An example would be good.

You see the cool looking dude on e2 in the red uniform? That's you!

You'd like to get to the end of the board, wouldn't you?

So make a move. You could move either one or two squares forward? Two is better because it's nearer the end of the battlefield.

If you have a chessboard to hand get it out, set up the pawns and see how the battle works.


So you move from e2 to e4 and Black moves from d7 to d5.

Hey, look!! You can kill him! Tell me which pawn can make the capture.
Well done! Your first victim!! You capture the pawn on d5!!

Black now moves his pawn from h7 to h5.

Follow the game on your chessboard. You can see the current position on your left.
You invite your colleague on the c-file to come up and help you get to the end of the board.

So the pawn on c2 moves to c4.

Black's trying to get one of his men to the end - his pawn moves from h5 to h4.

Again, the current situation is on the left of your screen.


Your c-pawn moves to c5 and the black h-pawn moves to h3.

He's nearly reached the end of the board! Which pawn should you move to stop him?
Yes, your g-pawn can take his h-pawn (moving it up the board was also good).

Now his c-pawn moves up to challenge you.

Oh no!! He's threatening to kill you!!

You could kill him but then his b-pawn would kill you.

This would be an EXCHANGE - one pawn on either side would be taken.

So instead you move up the board again, to d6. You've nearly reached the end of the board now!
What's happened now?!?!

Oh no!! You've just been killed!!

You've been taken by the enemy pawn on e7!!

Such a shame! You were so near the end of the board! And in your first battle as well!

"I see you died helping your army win the battle.

Warriors who give up their lives in a good cause get re-incarnated.

I'll bring you back to life as close as I can to where you fell."


You have to take revenge on the enemy pawn who dared take your life! Tell me which pawn you can use to capture him.
You correctly make a capture on d6, and Black replies by moving from g7 to g5. Do you see which pawn you have to move to CAPTURE THE FLAG in two moves time?


You move forward to the seventh rank, and Black's g-pawn moves to g4. Which pawn can you use to win the battle this move?
Congratulations, Kiddo!!

You captured the flag and helped the White army win the battle.
Now go away and play a game of CAPTURE THE FLAG yourself. If you like you can play it against a friend or relation.

Or if you prefer the great FISHY BOBBER is waiting to battle you. He'll even give you a start if you like. But he'll get very angry if you beat him!

You bet! I'd like to take on Fishy right now!
I'd like to repeat the lesson first please
I'll do it later if you don't mind - I have to go now
No thank you - I'm scared that I might lose