A Game of Chess in the Park
Ask for a game, name the pieces and talk your way through a friendly chess match in French.
Chess is popular in France: many towns have a club affiliated with the Fédération française des échecs, and in Paris people play on the stone tables of the Jardin du Luxembourg. The French names of the pieces can surprise you: the queen is usually « la dame », the bishop is « le fou », literally the fool, and the knight is « le cavalier ». Between players in a park or club, tu is normal.
- 1
Tu veux faire une partie ?
Do you want to play a game?
- 2
Tu joues aux échecs ?
Do you play chess?
- 3
Je suis débutant.
I'm a beginner.
- 4
Tu prends les blancs ou les noirs ?
Do you want white or black?
- 5
Les blancs commencent.
White starts.
- 6
C'est à toi.
It's your turn.
- 7
la dame
the queen
- 8
le fou
the bishop
- 9
le cavalier
the knight
- 10
la tour
the rook
- 11
Échec !
Check!
- 12
Échec et mat !
Checkmate!
- 13
Je vais roquer.
I'm going to castle.
- 14
Tu peux pas faire ce coup-là.
You can't do that move.
- 15
Je peux reprendre mon coup ?
Can I take it back?
- 16
Pièce touchée, pièce jouée !
Touch-move!
Tip: The rule: if you touch a piece, you must move it.
- 17
T'as perdu ta dame.
You've lost your queen.
- 18
Bien joué !
Well played!
- 19
C'est nul.
It's a draw.
Tip: In chess, this is not an insult.
- 20
On fait la revanche ?
Rematch?