What Is Chess?
Chess is a battle of minds – a strategy game where two players compete to outthink each other on a checkered 8×8 board. Played and studied for over 1500 years, chess combines logic, foresight, creativity, and competitive spirit like no other game.
Why Chess Captivates the World
- ♟️ A universal language played in every country
- ♟️ No luck involved – pure skill and ideas
- ♟️ Every game is unique – infinite possibilities
- ♟️ Teaches patience, focus, and decision-making
- ♟️ Enjoyed casually or competitively at all ages
From ancient warriors to modern AI, from friendly games to world championships, chess continues to challenge and inspire. It’s not just a game – it’s a way to sharpen your mind.
Want to Try It Yourself?
Further Learning
- Beginner’s Guide to Playing Chess
- Why People Love Playing Chess
- Try a Tactics Puzzle
- Beginner Chess Portal
What Is Chess? — Key Facts & Trivia
1. Chess is a board game for two players and classified as an abstract strategy game.
It involves no hidden information and no elements of chance.
2. The game is played on a square board of 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid.
The squares alternate in color to create a checkered pattern.
3. Each player controls sixteen pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns.
Each piece type has a distinct pattern of movement.
4. The main objective is to checkmate the opponent’s king — threaten it with capture in a way it cannot escape.
Checkmate immediately ends the game with victory.
5. Chess games can also end in draws through various conditions besides checkmate.
Draws occur by stalemate, agreement, repetition, and other rules.
6. Chess has been actively played in its modern form since around 1475.
Its predecessors date back roughly 900 years earlier.
7. The earliest known ancestor of chess is chaturanga, which emerged in 7th-century India.
This game is also an ancestor of other regional chess variants like xiangqi and shogi.
8. Chess spread from India to Persia, then to the Arab world, and eventually to Europe.
The modern rules took shape in Europe by the late 15th century.
9. Standardized chess rules and universal acceptance developed by the end of the 19th century.
These rules govern official play worldwide today.
10. Organized competitive chess began in the 19th century.
The first recognized World Chess Champion was Wilhelm Steinitz in 1886.
11. The current World Chess Champion (as of 2024) is Gukesh Dommaraju.
He won the title in 2024.
12. Chess is known as a “mind sport” requiring skills in strategy and tactics.
It combines deep calculation with long-term planning.
13. Chess has influenced many fields, including mathematics, computer science, psychology, and the arts.
The game’s complexity and aesthetics make it relevant beyond gaming.
14. A vast body of chess theory has developed since the game’s inception.
This theory covers openings, middlegames, endgames, and tactics.
15. The development of chess-playing machines was a key goal of early computer science.
In 1997, Deep Blue became the first computer to defeat a reigning World Chess Champion (Garry Kasparov) in a match.
16. Modern chess engines are stronger than the best human players and heavily influence chess theory and training.
They analyze games and suggest optimal moves beyond human capacity.
17. Despite the strength of computers, chess remains an unsolved game.
No known perfect strategy can guarantee a win or draw from the starting position.
18. The game is known internationally by several names including “International chess” and “Western chess.”
These terms distinguish it from other regional variants.
19. The two players are referred to as “White” and “Black,” named after the colors of their pieces.
White moves first, providing a slight advantage.
20. Capturing in chess involves moving a piece onto a square occupied by an opponent’s piece, removing it from the board.
Captured pieces cannot be reintroduced.