Detailed, molded Simpson character chessmen include the hole family: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, and Krusty the Clown. Folding 17" board with 1-1/2" blue and yellow squares. 3-1/2" Tall King. Includes attractive tin carry case.

Setting Up The Game: The chessboard is placed between two players who sit opposite each other.  Either player has a black corner square to his or her right.  The pieces are arranged as follows:  On the baseline, starting from the outside in, are placed the castles (Lisa Simpson), the knights (Krusty), and the bishops (Bart Simpson), and on the two middle squares are placed the Kings (Homer Simpson) and their queens (Marge Simpson).  Marge Simpson (with black base) is always placed on the black square and the Marge Simpson (with red base) is always on the red square.  The eight pawns (Maggie Simpson) are placed on the row directly in front.
The Object of the Game and How to Play: The aim of the game is to "checkmate" the opposite King.  This means that, on the next move, this King could be taken, and there is no further possibility of taking evasive action.  The Simpson's team (with black bases) goes first., then moves are made alternately.  Each piece can take any other, ie the piece which is take is removed from the board which has taken it has advanced to occupy the square.  It is not compulsory to take a piece or to save a piece from threatened loss.  This is, however, different when the King (Homer Simpson) is threatened.  If a piece threatens the opposing King and is able to take him with the next move, the on informs one's opponent of this by saying "check" out loud.  The threatened player must now save his King.  and the piece threatening - if this is possible - or he can move his King.  Only when these options are no longer possible is the King in "check mate".  If neither of the players is able to "checkmate" the other, then the game ends in a draw.  "Stalemate" is a situation in which on of the players can no longer execute a permitted move without the King being in a "check" position.
The Pieces and their Values:
Pawn (Maggie Simpson)	The Pawn is the weakest of all pieces.  She can only be moved one square forward per move and can never be moved backwards.  Only with the very first move can she (if desired) be moved two squares forward.  The Pawn takes another piece diagonally forwards, either right or left.  By doing so, she leaves her own line in order to advance to the adjacent line.  As a Pawn on her own, she is very weak, but when playing together with other Pawns, or with other pieces, she gains in strength.
Castle (Lisa Simpson)	The castle moves in a straight line in either direction left or right, backwards or forwards, over as many empty squares as it likes.  The castle compliments the bishop but has a higher value.
Knight (Krusty)	The Knight is the only piece that can jump over its own or enemies pieces which might be in the way.  The Knight moves one square ahead plus one square diagonally (in other words: two straight squares in any direction plus one square to either the left or the right).  He can do this in any desired direction, so that a Knight standing in the middle of the board, has eight possible moves at his disposal.  Because of this, this piece looks at first rather daunting, but it's reach is limited.
Bishop (Bart Simpson)	The Bishop moves diagonally over as many empty squares as it likes.  However contrary to the Knight, the Bishop and all other pieces on the baseline must first have a space created for them before they can be moved, as the closed row row o Pawns in front of them from moving beyond the basic set-up position.
Queen (Marge Simpson)	The Queen can move diagonally, like the bishop, on in a straight line, like the Castle.  She is therefore the most agile piece on the board and thus the most valuable.  Losing one's Queen can soon mean losing the game.
King (Homer Simpson)	The King moves in the same ways as the Queen, but only one square at a time.  He is, in principle, the figure whish the the target of all the enemy's pieces.  Therefore, he is in very great need of protection  (as are all heroic knights). It is also very difficult for him to take an opposing piece, without he himself being threatened at the same time (in other words, being put in check).
Special Rules:
Pawn Conversion: If a Pawn has managed to reach the baseline of the opposing player, she is immediately transformed into any chosen piece (Knight, Castle, Bishop or Queen).  This pieces stays on the board; one would therefore usually choose a queen.  If there is no corresponding piece available, one distinguishes the Pawn by standing him, for example, on a draughts piece.
Castling Castling is the only chess move in which two pieces are moved at the same time.  This move places the King in safety at the same time it frees the Castle to take part in the game.  It is therefore an important move, which ought to be made, if possible, very early on.  There is , of course, no obligation to do this.  This is how a castling is done:  First, the King moves two squares in the direction of the Castle.  Then, the Castle moves (over the King) to the square beside him.  As there are two Castles, there are two ways of castling: a long and a short way.  The possibility of castling depends on the following pre conditions: - No piece must stand between the King and Castle - Neither King nor Castle has yet moved - The King must not be in "check" - The two squares next to the King in the direction of the relevant Castle must not stand under simultaneous threat of Check.
Taking a Piece en Passant (in English: "in passing").  This is a special rule which applies to Pawn only.  If a Pawn, in making his initial move off the baseline, moves two squares next to an opposing Pawn, this opposing Pawn has the right to capture the initial Pawn "en passant", just as though the initial Pawn moved only one square.