Step 2: Capture & Count · about 25 min
Free Pieces
Goal: Kids can tell a protected piece from an unprotected one and capture only what's free.
You need: One board and set per pair
1 · Teach it (15 min)
Read these out loud, or put them in your own words. Show each board on screen or set it up on a demo board.
1.“A piece is protected when a friend could capture back if it gets taken. This black knight is protected by the pawn next to it.”
2.“If our rook takes the knight, the pawn takes our rook. We win 3 points but lose 5. That's a bad deal!”
3.“But the bishop in the corner has no friends nearby. Nobody can capture back. We call that a free piece. Take free pieces!”
4.“Before every capture, ask: can they take back? Before every move, ask: can they take my piece for free?”
👉 Make this the club's question. Repeat it all year.
- Grabbing a protected piece with the queen.
- Leaving their own pieces unprotected right after moving.
2 · Play it: Free Piece Hunt (10 min)
Set up: Play a normal game.
- Before each move, say out loud whether your opponent left anything free.
- If you find a free piece and take it, you get a bonus point.
- If you leave one of your own pieces free and your partner takes it, they get a bonus point.
- Most bonus points after 10 minutes wins.
3 · Practice and pass check
On iPads, kids open Student → Step 2 → Free Pieces. On paper, print the worksheet. A kid passes by getting 2 of 3 on the pass check. The pass code for this lesson is S2-L2-4T.
🧩 Extra puzzles: 60 real puzzles from lichess.org for kids who finish early: the Extra puzzles button in student mode, or tick Extra puzzles on the worksheet page (8 per set).
Practice (3) with answers
1.Capture the free piece. Watch out for the protected one! Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Rxa1
2.Is it a good idea for the queen to take the knight?
- 👍Yes, it's free
- ✓👎No, the pawn takes back
3.Your queen can capture three pieces, but only one is free. Find it. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Qxg4+
Pass check (3) with answers
1.Capture the free piece. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Rxh1
2.Can the bishop take the rook for free?
- 👍Yes
- ✓👎No
3.Capture the free piece with your knight. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Nxe4
Topic order based on: Chess for Children, Part 2 (topic order); How to Win at Chess, ch. 7 (attacking and defending). All wording is original.