Introduce your young learners to the exciting world of chess with our "Understanding Chess Rules" worksheets, designed specifically for children ages 5-7. These engaging, easy-to-follow printables simplify the basics of chess, teaching foundational skills such as piece movement, game objectives, and strategic planning. Each worksheet is crafted to promote cognitive development, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking in a fun, interactive way. Perfect for beginners, these resources will nurture a love for chess, providing a strong knowledge base for future chess enthusiasts. Ready, set, checkmate! Explore our chess worksheets and make learning chess a delightful adventure!


Check out this FREE Trial Lesson on Chess for age 5-7!

Queen

Favorites
With answer key
Interactive
  • 5-7
  • Understanding chess rules
  • Chess
How Rooks Capture Worksheet
How Rooks Capture Worksheet

How Rooks Capture Worksheet

Chess is a game that requires skill, concentration and planning. Players must move their chess pieces strategically to capture pieces from their opponent. Do your kids know how to use the rook to capture pieces? Go through the worksheet with them and circle the pieces the rook can capture.
How Rooks Capture Worksheet
Worksheet
How King Moves Worksheet
How King Moves Worksheet

How King Moves Worksheet

Teach your kids the fundamentals of chess with this worksheet! The goal is to checkmate the opponent's king, so it must be protected at all times. The king moves along files, ranks, and diagonals (except one square at a time), and cannot move to a square next to the enemy king. Your kids will soon master the art of checkmate!
How King Moves Worksheet
Worksheet
How Rooks Move Worksheet
How Rooks Move Worksheet

How Rooks Move Worksheet

Help your kids master chess with this worksheet! Explain how rook pieces move along ranks and files, and have them mark the squares it can move to. Note that it can't jump over other pieces. With your guidance, they'll soon understand the game they love.
How Rooks Move Worksheet
Worksheet
How Queen Captures Worksheet
How Queen Captures Worksheet

How Queen Captures Worksheet

Chess is a great game for sharpening math skills, strategic thinking, and knowledge of how each piece moves. If your child is interested, introduce them with this worksheet. It demonstrates how the queen can capture opposing pieces, such as another queen, and take their place.
How Queen Captures Worksheet
Worksheet
Check. Checkmate or Stalemate? Worksheet
Check. Checkmate or Stalemate? Worksheet

Check. Checkmate or Stalemate? Worksheet

Chess teaches critical thinking, reasoning, and logic skills in a fun way. With this downloadable worksheet, kids can look at chess boards and decide if the sides are in check, checkmate, or stalemate. Win or lose, a stalemate can be a great outcome, and kids can learn and build skills with each move!
Check. Checkmate or Stalemate? Worksheet
Worksheet
Castling No–no's: Part 1 Worksheet
Castling No–no's: Part 1 Worksheet

Castling No–no's: Part 1 Worksheet

Help your child learn how to play chess by using this worksheet. Ask them to circle the king and rook that can castle in the picture. Explain that a king cannot castle if the king or rook has moved, or if there is any other piece between them. Knowing these rules will make playing a lot easier!
Castling No–no's: Part 1 Worksheet
Worksheet
How Pawns Capture Worksheet
How Pawns Capture Worksheet

How Pawns Capture Worksheet

Ask your child to circle all the places a pawn can capture in one move on the diagonal. Pawns are limited in the moves they can make, but can still capture enemy pieces. This worksheet will help brush up on their knowledge of the rules of chess.
How Pawns Capture Worksheet
Worksheet


Understanding chess rules can be immensely beneficial for young children aged 5-7, and parents or teachers should value introducing it early. Chess is more than a game; it is a superb educational tool that enhances critical thinking, problem-solving, and planning skills. When children learn chess, they start recognizing patterns and strategizing several moves ahead, which helps improve their cognitive development. This early engagement with strategic thinking fosters patience, concentration, and the ability to think ahead – essential skills for academic success.

Furthermore, chess encourages social interaction and good sportsmanship. Children learn to communicate, negotiate, and handle losses gracefully, which are invaluable traits both inside and outside the classroom. Chess can be a confidence booster, as mastering the rules and advancing in skill brings a sense of accomplishment.

For parents and teachers, incorporating chess into a child’s routine is relatively easy and low-cost. It provides a shared activity that can strengthen bonds between parents and children, or create a collaborative and competitive environment in an educational setting. This collective interest not only nurtures a child’s intellect but also provides a productive and engaging pastime. Therefore, making time to understand and teach chess rules is truly worthwhile for young minds.