chess

Table of Contents

Introduction & Top Questions
Characteristics of the game
- Algebraic notation
- Moves
  - King
  - Rook
  - Bishop
  - Queen
  - Knight
  - Capturing
  - Pawns
  - Castling
- Relative piece values
- Object of the game
- Game notation
- Conduct of the game
History
- Ancient precursors and related games
- Introduction to Europe
- Standardization of rules
- Set design
- The world championship and FIDE
- Women in chess
Development of theory
- Philidor and the birth of chess theory
- Morphy and the theory of attack
- Steinitz and the theory of equilibrium
- The classical era
- Hypermodernism
- The Soviet school
- The pragmatists
The time element and competition
- Origin of time controls
- Technological improvements
- Standard controls
- Quick chess
- The Fischer clock
- Correspondence chess
Chess and artificial intelligence
- Master search heuristics
- Computer chess
- Computer extension of chess theory
Chess composition
- Studies
- Standard problems
- Heterodox problems

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

position of chessmen at the beginning of a game

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chess composition by Henry Augustus Loveday

For Students

chess summary

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chess

Q: What is chess?

Chess is one of the oldest and most popular board games. It is played by two opponents on a checkered board with specially designed pieces of contrasting colours, commonly white and black. The objective of the game is to capture the opponent’s king.

Q: When does a game of chess end?

A game of chess ends when a player puts the opposing player’s king in a position that cannot avoid capture (checkmate). A game can also be won or lost through concession. A chess match can also end in a draw. This can happen through stalemate, mutual consent, checkmate being impossible to achieve, and in other ways.

Q: Where did chess originate?

Chess first appeared in India about the 6th century CE. By the 10th century it had spread from Asia to the Middle East and Europe. Some regard the game chaturanga to be the precursor of modern chess because of the different piece abilities and the win condition being the capture of a singular piece (king).

Q: Who is the youngest chess world champion?

Garry Kasparov was the youngest ever chess world champion. In 1985, at just 22 years of age, the Soviet-born grandmaster defeated Anatoly Karpov to gain this title.

Q: How did chess become popular?

Originally, chess was an intellectual diversion among the upper classes. Chess grew further in the 20th century as it became a profession where people competed for a world title and prize money. Today the Internet has accelerated the growth of chess, with chess content widely available via platforms such as YouTube and Twitch.

game

Written by Andrew E. Soltis

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 23, 2024 • Article History

Key People:: Ju Wenjun; Gukesh Dommaraju; Ding Liren; Viswanathan Anand; Susan Polgar

Related Topics:: shogi; chess piece; Chinese chess; list of chess players; pawn promotion

See all related content

What is chess?

When does a game of chess end?

Where did chess originate?

Who is the youngest chess world champion?

How did chess become popular?

News •

Nara Devaansh sets world record in chess category • Dec. 22, 2024, 12:32 PM ET (The Hindu)

Chaturanga to checkmate: How chess spread from India to the world • Dec. 17, 2024, 9:32 PM ET (The Indian Express)

Indian prodigy dethrones China’s Ding to become youngest world chess champion • Dec. 12, 2024, 6:07 AM ET (South China Morning Post)

World Chess Championship: Ding Liren draws first blood; beats Gukesh in opener • Nov. 25, 2024, 2:29 AM ET (The Hindu)

chess, one of the oldest and most popular board games, played by two opponents on a checkered board with specially designed pieces of contrasting colours, commonly white and black. White moves first, after which the players alternate turns in accordance with fixed rules, each player attempting to force the opponent’s principal piece, the King, into checkmate—a position where it is unable to avoid capture. (Read Garry Kasparov’s Britannica essay on chess & Deep Blue.) Chess first appeared in India about the 6th century ad and by the 10th century had spread from Asia to the Middle East and Europe. Since ...(100 of 14374 words)

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