Emotion Chess

A printable board game for exploring, expressing, and understanding emotions.

Meet Emotion Chess, a creative, interactive, and beautifully designed printable resource that helps children explore how emotions work, how they can be expressed, and how to regulate them.

Blending the timeless strategy of chess with the curiosity of emotional literacy, Emotion Chess transforms classic gameplay into a journey of self-awareness, empathy, and emotional management.

The best part? You don’t need to know how to play chess - our easy step-by-step guide walks you through everything! All the pieces, the board, and the cards are printable and ready to play, so you can start right away, no special equipment needed.

About This Resource

Emotion Chess is more than just a game, it’s a calming and educational tool that brings fun and reflection. Created for children aged 8+, this printable game encourages players to identify emotions, explore their impact, and discover positive strategies for managing them.

Players move their chess pieces across a black and white emotion-filled board. Every square represents a different feeling - from happiness and excitement to frustration and worry - and every move is a chance to talk, think, act, and learn.

Each time a player lands on an emotion square, they draw a prompt card. These cards invite children to:

• express what they’re feeling,

• act out emotions safely,

• talk about real-life experiences,

• or imagine new ways to handle strong emotions.

By combining movement, imagination, and reflection, Emotion Chess turns abstract emotional learning into a hands-on, engaging experience that feels more like play than work.

Aims of Emotion Chess

Emotion Chess is designed to help children:

• Recognise and name emotions - learning to identify feelings in themselves and others.

• Build self-regulation skills - discovering ways to calm, reset, and manage difficult feelings.

• Develop empathy and connection - learning to understand how others might feel or react.

• Express emotions safely - through acting, drawing, movement, or discussion.

• Improve emotional vocabulary - finding the right words to describe complex feelings.

• Practise problem-solving and reflection - thinking about triggers, consequences, and choices.

• Increase self-confidence - by realising that all emotions are normal and manageable.

Whether used in therapy, classrooms, nurture groups, or at home, this resource helps children turn emotional awareness into emotional intelligence, whilst having fun!

Features

• Printable board game: Everything you need is included: the board, chess pieces, and four colourful decks of cards.
• 32 prompt cards: One for every chess piece on the board! Each card invites creative, open-ended responses that spark conversation and emotional insight.
• Four card types: Helper - these cards help children learn skills to manage the emotion. Challenge - Face a fun emotion challenge, act it out, play and get moving! Talk - Engaging discussion prompts designed to help children and teens open up. Think - Imaginative questions to get brains in gear!
• Complete How-to-Play guide: Perfect for beginners! You don’t need to know how to play chess - our guide will help you learn.
• Flexible use: Play the full chess version or adapt to suit your child.

How to Play

1. Set up your board: Print the chessboard and cut out the pieces or use real chess figures if you prefer.
2. Take turns moving your pieces: White always goes first! Each time a player lands on or captures an emotion square, they draw a card. When one player’s piece lands on a square that already has an opponent’s piece, that piece is captured and removed from the board, just like traditional chess!
3. Pick a card at random: The player reads their card and responds, they can talk, act, draw, or move depending on the question. There are no right or wrong answers - just ideas, laughter, and learning.
4. Play on: Keep playing and exploring until one player’s King is checkmated - just like in classic chess!

You can play one round for a short session, or keep the board set up across multiple lessons or therapy sessions.

Benefits of Playing Emotion Chess

Builds emotional awareness

Children learn to recognise and name their emotions as they appear, and begin to notice how those emotions affect their thoughts and actions.

Develops self-regulation

Through the Helper cards, children think about which calming strategies work for them.

Strengthens reflection and problem-solving

The Think cards encourage deeper thinking, helping children really explore how each emotion feels for them.

Encourages open communication

The Talk cards give children safe, structured ways to discuss feelings, experiences, and relationships, without pressure or judgment.

Promotes expression and creativity

The Challenge cards are full of movement, acting, imagination, and humour, giving children permission to express themselves freely and safely.

Supports educators and professionals

Perfect for school wellbeing sessions, nurture groups, therapy, or PSHE lessons. It helps adults guide emotional learning naturally through play, not worksheets.

Builds empathy and connection

As children hear how others feel, they begin to understand emotions as universal, creating trust, compassion, and shared insight.

Perfect for diverse learning needs

Because it’s visual, physical, and discussion-based, Emotion Chess works beautifully for neurodiverse children and mixed-ability groups.

What’s Included (Printable Pack)

• Full Chess of Emotions board.

• Printable chess pieces and counters.

• 32 prompt cards (8 per category).

• How to Play guide.

All files come in high-resolution PDF format, simply download, print, and play!

Emotion Chess turns the game of chess into a safe, engaging space for exploring feelings, practising self-regulation, and building emotional intelligence.

Whether you’re a teacher, therapist, counsellor, or parent, Emotion Chess is a beautiful way to help children:

• Name emotions,

• Handle them with confidence,

• And connect with others, all while having fun.

Play your way through every feeling and download now!