Chess is easy to learn, and anyone can play it. Jessica E Prescott teaches you how you can get good at it—and start winning. Improve your skills through 35 fun activities—this isn’t just a textbook about the rules of the game! Why not have a game of Pawn Football (pawns line up at their starting rank and race to the other side), or do the Queen Dance (make a checkmate using only a queen and king)? Try Scholar’s Mate—the four-move checkmate every beginner needs to know—and when you’re really good, play Bughouse, a crazy four-person game with two chess sets. All the activities have clear, colorful artworks so you can see exactly where pieces should be on the chessboard. There are also helpful hints and tips throughout, and if you’ve ever forgotten how a piece moves or need to brush up on a rule, look at the Starting Out section for a reminder.

Jessica E Prescott recently ranked in the top 100 US female chess players. She has been a chess instructor for 16 years and has coached teams in three states at the State and USA National Championship levels. Jessica is the past Vice President of Scholastic Chess with the North Carolina Chess Association (NCCA). Since 2010, she has been a weekly author for the interactive website www.chesskid.com. In 2008, Jessica created Over The Chessboard, an organization dedicated to promoting chess for everyone. The author is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.