# Chess

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Traditional board game for two players

This article is about Western chess. For other chess games or other uses, see [Chess (disambiguation)](/source/Chess_(disambiguation)).

Chess Part of a Staunton chess set Left to right: white king, black rook, black queen, white pawn, black knight, white bishop Years active c. 1475 to present[1] (predecessors c. 900 years earlier) Genres Board game Abstract strategy game Mind sport Players 2 Chance None Skills Strategy, tactics Synonyms International chess Western chess

**Chess** is a [board game](/source/Board_game) for two players, played on a square [board](/source/Chessboard) consisting of 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid. The players, referred to as ["White" and "Black"](/source/White_and_Black_in_chess), each control sixteen [pieces](/source/Chess_piece): one [king](/source/King_(chess)), one [queen](/source/Queen_(chess)), two [rooks](/source/Rook_(chess)), two [bishops](/source/Bishop_(chess)), two [knights](/source/Knight_(chess)), and eight [pawns](/source/Pawn_(chess)), with each piece type having a different pattern of movement. An enemy piece may be captured (removed from the board) by moving one's own piece onto the square it occupies. The object of the game is to "[checkmate](/source/Checkmate)" (threaten with inescapable capture) the enemy king. There are also several ways a game can end in a [draw](/source/Draw_(chess)).

The recorded history of chess dates back to the emergence of [chaturanga](/source/Chaturanga) in 7th-century [India](/source/History_of_India). Chaturanga is also thought to be an ancestor of [similar games](/source/Chess_variant) like *[janggi](/source/Janggi)*, *[xiangqi](/source/Xiangqi)*, and *[shogi](/source/Shogi)*. After its introduction to [Persia](/source/Persia), it spread to the Arab world and then to Europe. The modern rules of chess emerged in Europe at the end of the 15th century, becoming standardized and gaining universal acceptance by the end of the 19th century. Today, chess is one of the world's most popular games, with millions of players worldwide.

Organized chess arose in the 19th century. International chess competitions today are governed by the International Chess Federation [FIDE](/source/FIDE) (*Fédération Internationale des Échecs*). The first universally recognized [World Chess Champion](/source/World_Chess_Champion), [Wilhelm Steinitz](/source/Wilhelm_Steinitz), claimed his title in [1886](/source/World_Chess_Championship_1886); [Gukesh Dommaraju](/source/Gukesh_Dommaraju) is the current World Champion, having won the title in [2024](/source/World_Chess_Championship_2024).

This article uses [algebraic notation](/source/Algebraic_notation_(chess)) to describe chess moves.

A large body of [chess theory](/source/Chess_theory) has developed since the game's inception. Aspects of art are found in [chess composition](/source/Chess_composition), and chess has in turn influenced [Western culture](/source/Western_culture) and [the arts](/source/Chess_in_the_arts), and has relevance to other fields such as [mathematics](/source/Mathematics), [computer science](/source/Computer_science), and [psychology](/source/Psychology). One of the goals of early [computer scientists](/source/Computer_scientists) was to create a [chess-playing machine](/source/Chess-playing_machine). In 1997, [Deep Blue](/source/Deep_Blue_(chess_computer)) became the first computer to win a [match](/source/Match_(chess)) with a reigning World Champion when it [defeated Garry Kasparov](/source/Deep_Blue_versus_Garry_Kasparov). The [chess engines](/source/Chess_engine) of today are significantly stronger than the best human players and have greatly influenced the development of chess theory. Chess, however, is [not a solved game](/source/Solving_chess).

## Rules

Main article: [Rules of chess](/source/Rules_of_chess)

The rules of chess are published by [FIDE](/source/FIDE) ([French](/source/French_language): *Fédération Internationale des Échecs*, 'International Chess Federation'), world governing body of chess, in its *Handbook*.[2] Rules published by [national governing bodies](/source/List_of_chess_federations), or by unaffiliated chess organizations, commercial publishers, etc., may differ in some details. FIDE's rules were most recently revised in 2023.

### Setup

Setup at the start of a chess game

[Chess sets](/source/Chess_set) come in a wide variety of styles. The [Staunton pattern](/source/Staunton_chess_set) is the most common, and is usually required for competition.[3] Chess sets come with [pieces](/source/Chess_piece) in two colors, referred to as *white* and *black*, regardless of their actual color; the players controlling the color sets are referred to as *White* and *Black*, respectively. Each set comes with at least the following 16 pieces in both colors: one [king](/source/King_(chess)), one [queen](/source/Queen_(chess)), two [rooks](/source/Rook_(chess)), two [bishops](/source/Bishop_(chess)), two [knights](/source/Knight_(chess)), and eight [pawns](/source/Pawn_(chess)).[2]

The game is played on a square [board](/source/Chessboard) of eight rows (called *[ranks](/source/Glossary_of_chess#ranks)*) and eight columns (called *[files](/source/Glossary_of_chess#files)*). Although it does not affect gameplay, by convention the 64 squares alternate in color and are referred to as *light* and *dark* squares.[2]

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h

 Initial position: (*first row*) rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight, rook; (*second row*) pawns

To start the game, White's pieces are placed on the first rank in the following order, from left to right: rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight, rook. Pawns are placed on each square of the second rank. Black's position mirrors White's, with equivalent pieces on every file.[2] The board is oriented so that the right-hand corner nearest each player is a light square; as a result the white queen always starts on a light square, while the black queen starts on a dark square. This may be remembered by the phrases "white on the right" and "queen on her color".[4]

In informal games, colors may be decided either by mutual agreement, or by lot. The rules of chess do not prescribe any particular method for deciding colors by lot, but a common traditional method is to conceal a white pawn in one hand and a black pawn in the other and have the opponent choose.[5]

In competitions, the piece colors are normally allocated to players by the organizers, but occasionally are decided by lot, for example in the first round of a player vs. player match or a team vs team match. In this case, the organizers are free to use any method they wish to decide the colors, from a simple coin toss or card draw, to more creative methods. For example at the U.S. China Chess Summit, a friendly match between the two countries played in Seattle in 2001, the first round colors were decided by a game of [Jenga](/source/Jenga), won by the Chinese.[6]

### Movement

White moves first, after which players alternate turns. One piece is moved per turn (except when [castling](/source/Castling), during which two pieces are moved). In the diagrams, dots mark the squares to which each type of piece can move if unoccupied by friendly pieces and there are no intervening piece(s) of either color (except the knight, which leaps over any intervening pieces). With the sole exception of *[en passant](/source/En_passant)*, a piece captures an enemy piece by moving to the square it occupies, removing it from play and taking its place. The pawn is the only piece that does not capture the way it moves, and it is the only piece that moves and captures in only one direction (forwards from the player's perspective). A piece is said to *control* empty squares on which it could capture, *attack* squares with enemy pieces it could capture, and *defend* squares with pieces of the same color on which it could recapture. Moving is compulsory; a player may not skip a turn.

Moves of the king a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h Moves of a rook a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h Moves of a bishop a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h

Moves of a queen a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h Moves of a knight a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h Moves of a pawn a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h

- The [king](/source/King_(chess)) moves one square in any direction. There is also a special move called *[castling](#Castling)* which moves the king and a rook. The king is the most valuable piece—it is illegal to play any move that puts one's king under attack by an opponent piece. A move that attacks the king must be parried immediately; if this cannot be done, the game is lost. (See [§ Check and checkmate](#Check_and_checkmate).)

- A [rook](/source/Rook_(chess)) can move any number of squares along a rank or file. A rook is involved in the king's castling move.

- A [bishop](/source/Bishop_(chess)) can move any number of squares diagonally.

- A [queen](/source/Queen_(chess)) combines the power of a rook and bishop and can move any number of squares along a rank, file, or diagonal.

- A [knight](/source/Knight_(chess)) moves to any of the closest squares that are not on the same rank, file, or diagonal. (Thus the move forms an "L"-shape: two squares vertically and one square horizontally, or two squares horizontally and one square vertically.) The knight is the only piece that can leap over other pieces.

- A [pawn](/source/Pawn_(chess)) can move forward to the unoccupied square immediately in front of it on the same file, or on its first move it can optionally advance two squares along the same file, provided both squares are unoccupied (diagram dots). A pawn can capture an opponent's piece on a square diagonally in front of it by moving to that square (diagram crosses). It *cannot* capture a piece while advancing along the same file, nor can it move to either square diagonally in front without capturing. Pawns have two special moves: the [*en passant* capture](#Special_pawn_moves) and [promotion](#Special_pawn_moves).

#### Check and checkmate

Main articles: [Check](/source/Check_(chess)) and [Checkmate](/source/Checkmate)

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h The black king is in check by the rook. a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h White is in checkmate, being unable to escape attack by the bishop on f3.

When a king is under immediate attack, it is *in [check](/source/Check_(chess))*. A move in response to a check is legal only if it results in a position in which the king is no longer in check. There are three ways to counter a check:

- Capture the checking piece.

- Interpose a piece between the checking piece and the king (possible only if the attacking piece is a queen, rook, or bishop and there is a square between it and the king).

- Move the king to a square where it is not under attack.

The object of the game is to [checkmate](/source/Checkmate) the opponent; this occurs when the opponent's king is in check, and there is no legal way to get it out of check. In casual games, it is common to announce "check" when putting the opponent's king in check, but this is not required by the rules of chess and is usually not done in tournaments.[7]

#### Castling

Main article: [Castling](/source/Castling)

Examples of [castling](/source/Castling) ([view animation](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/ChessCastlingMovie_en.svg))

Kings can *castle* once per game. Castling consists of moving the king two squares toward either rook of the same color, and then placing the rook on the square that the king crossed.

Castling is possible only if the following conditions are met:[2]

- Neither the king nor the rook has previously moved during the game.

- There are no pieces between the king and the rook.

- The king is not in [check](#Check) and does not cross or finish on a square controlled by an enemy piece.

Castling is still permitted if the rook is under attack, or if the rook crosses an attacked square. It is also still permitted if the king had been in check earlier in the game, provided that the check was resolved without moving the king.

Once a player has castled, the move cannot be "undone". The king and rook involved are considered to have moved and may not castle again later in the game. After castling, both pieces continue to move according to their normal movement rules.[8]

#### Special pawn moves

Main articles: [En passant](/source/En_passant) and [Promotion](/source/Promotion_(chess))

Examples of special pawn moves: (*left*) [promotion](/source/Promotion_(chess)); (*right*) *[en passant](/source/En_passant)*

Pawns have two special moves:

- *En passant*: A pawn can be captured *en passant* ("in passing") after it makes a two-square advance to the same rank as an opponent's pawn on an adjacent file, whereupon the opponent's pawn moves to one square behind the captured pawn. A pawn can be captured *en passant* only on the turn after it makes a two-square advance. In the animated diagram, the black pawn advances two squares from g7 to g5, and the white pawn on f5 takes it *en passant*, landing on g6.

- *Promotion*: A pawn is *promoted* when it advances to its [last rank](/source/Glossary_of_chess#eighth_rank), being replaced with the player's choice of a queen, rook, bishop, or knight. Usually, pawns are promoted to queens; choosing another piece is called [underpromotion](/source/Underpromotion). In the animated diagram, the c7-pawn is advanced to c8 and promoted to a queen. If the required piece is not available (e.g. a second queen), an inverted rook is sometimes used as a substitute,[9]: 17 but this is not recognized in FIDE-sanctioned games.

### End of the game

#### Win

A game can be won in the following ways:

- *[Checkmate](/source/Checkmate):* The opposing king is in check and no move can get it out of check. (See [§ Check and checkmate](#Check_and_checkmate).)

- *[Resignation](/source/Rules_of_chess#Resigning):* A player may resign, conceding the game to the opponent.[10] If, however, the opponent has no way of checkmating the resigned player, this is a draw under FIDE Laws.[2] Most tournament players consider it good etiquette to resign in a hopeless position.[11][12]

- *Win on time:* In games with a [time control](/source/Time_control), a player wins if the opponent runs out of time, even if the opponent has a superior position, as long as the player has a theoretical possibility to checkmate the opponent were the game to continue.

- *Forfeit:* A player who cheats, violates the rules, or violates the rules of conduct specified for the particular tournament can be forfeited. Occasionally, both players are forfeited.[2]

#### Draw

There are several ways a game can end in a [draw](/source/Draw_(chess)):

- *[Stalemate](/source/Stalemate):* If the player to move has no legal move, but is not in check, the position is a stalemate, and the game is drawn.

- *[Dead position](/source/Rules_of_chess#Dead_position):* If neither player is able to checkmate the other by any legal sequence of moves, the game is drawn. For example, if only the kings are on the board, all other pieces having been captured, checkmate is impossible and the game is drawn by this rule. On the other hand, if each player still has a knight, there is a theoretical albeit highly unlikely possibility of checkmate, so this rule does not apply. The dead position rule supersedes an older rule that referred to "insufficient material", thereby extending it to include other positions in which checkmate is impossible, such as blocked [pawn endings](/source/Chess_endgame#King_and_pawn_endings) in which the pawns cannot be attacked.

- *[Draw by agreement](/source/Draw_by_agreement):* In tournament chess, draws are most commonly reached by mutual agreement between the players. The correct procedure is to make a move, to verbally offer the draw, and then to start the opponent's clock. If a draw is offered before making a move, the opponent has the right to ask the player to make a move before making their decision on whether or not to accept the draw offer. Traditionally, players were allowed to agree to a draw at any point in the game, occasionally even without having played a single move. Since the 2000s, efforts have been made to discourage early draws, for example by forbidding draw offers before a certain number of moves have been completed or even forbidding draw offers altogether.

- *[Threefold repetition](/source/Threefold_repetition):* This most commonly occurs when neither side is able to avoid repeating moves without incurring a disadvantage. The three occurrences of the position need not occur on consecutive moves for a claim to be valid. The addition of the [fivefold repetition rule](/source/Fivefold_repetition) in 2014 requires the arbiter to intervene immediately and declare the game a draw after five occurrences of the same position, consecutive or otherwise, without requiring a claim by either player. FIDE rules make no mention of [perpetual check](/source/Perpetual_check); this is merely a specific type of draw by threefold repetition.

- *[Fifty-move rule](/source/Fifty-move_rule):* If during the previous 50 moves no pawn has been moved and no capture has been made, either player can claim a draw. The addition of the [seventy-five-move rule](/source/Seventy-five-move_rule) in 2014 requires the arbiter to intervene and immediately declare the game drawn after 75 moves without a pawn move or capture, without requiring a claim by either player. There are several known endgames in which it is possible to force a mate but it requires more than 50 moves before a pawn move or capture is made; examples include some endgames with [two knights against a pawn](/source/Two_knights_endgame) and some [pawnless endgames](/source/Pawnless_chess_endgame) such as queen against two bishops. Historically, FIDE has sometimes revised the fifty-move rule to make exceptions for these endgames, but these exceptions have since been repealed. Some [correspondence chess](/source/Correspondence_chess) organizations do not enforce the fifty-move rule.[note 1]

- *Draw on time:* In games with a [time control](/source/Time_control), the game is drawn if a player is out of time but no sequence of legal moves would allow the opponent to checkmate the player.[2]

- *Draw by resignation:* Under FIDE Laws, a game is drawn if a player resigns but no sequence of legal moves would allow the opponent to checkmate that player.[2]

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h Black (to move) is not in check and has no legal move. The result is stalemate. a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h A dead position; White's king and bishop are insufficient to deliver checkmate. a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h Also a dead position; neither king can capture the other's pawns in order to promote a pawn and give checkmate.

### Time control

In competition, chess games are played with a [time control](/source/Time_control). Time controls are generally divided into categories based on the amount of time given to each player, which range from classical time controls, which allot about 2 hours or more to each player and which can take upwards of seven hours (even longer if [adjournments](/source/Adjournment_(chess)) are permitted), to [bullet chess](/source/Bullet_chess), in which players receive less than three minutes each. Between these are [rapid chess](/source/Rapid_chess) (ten to sixty minutes per player) and [blitz chess](/source/Blitz_chess) (three to ten minutes). Non-classical chess is sometimes referred to as [fast chess](/source/Fast_chess).

Typical digital and analog chess clocks

Time is controlled using a [chess clock](/source/Chess_clock) with two displays, one for each player's remaining time. Analog chess clocks have been largely replaced by digital clocks, which allow for time controls with increments.

There are some aspects unique to online chess. A [premove](/source/Premove) allows a player to submit a move on the opponent's turn, which gets played automatically if possible using little to no time. Premoves, alongside the relative ease of digital inputs, make [faster time controls](/source/Ultrabullet) feasible online.

Time controls are also enforced in [correspondence chess](/source/Correspondence_chess) competitions. A typical time control is 50 days for every 10 moves. Time is usually allotted per move in online correspondence chess.

## Notation

Main article: [Algebraic notation](/source/Algebraic_notation_(chess))

Historically, many different [notation](/source/Chess_notation) systems have been used to record chess moves; the standard system today is short-form [algebraic notation](/source/Algebraic_notation_(chess)).[14] In this system, files are labeled *a* through *h* and ranks are labeled *1* through *8*. Squares are identified by the file and rank they occur on; "g3" is the square on the g-file and the third rank. In English, the piece notations are: K (king), Q (queen), R (rook), B (bishop), and N (knight; N is used to avoid confusion with king). Different initials are used in other languages. Moves are recorded as follows:

- *notation of piece moved* – *destination square*

Square names in [algebraic chess notation](/source/Algebraic_notation_(chess))

For example, Qg5 means "queen moves to g5". Pawns have no letter initials; e4 simply means "pawn moves to e4". When multiple moves could be rendered the same way, the file or rank from which the piece moved is added to resolve ambiguity (e.g. Ngf3 means "knight from the g-file moves to the square f3"; R1e2 means "rook on the first rank moves to e2"). If a move may be disambiguated by rank or file, it is done by file, and in the rare case that both are needed, squares are listed normally (e.g. Qh4xe1).

If the move is a capture, "x" is usually inserted before the destination square, thus Bxf3 means "bishop captures on f3". When a pawn makes a capture, the file from which the pawn departed is often listed even when no disambiguation is necessary; for example, exd5 ("pawn on the e-file captures on d5").

If a pawn moves to its last rank, achieving promotion, the piece chosen is indicated after the move (for example, e1=Q or e1Q). Castling is indicated by the special notations 0-0 for [kingside](/source/Glossary_of_chess#kingside) castling and 0-0-0 for [queenside](/source/Glossary_of_chess#queenside) castling. A move that places the opponent's king in check usually has the notation "+" suffixed. Checkmate can be indicated by suffixing "#". At the end of the game, "1–0" means White won, "0–1" means Black won, and "½–½" indicates a draw.[2] Chess moves can be annotated with [punctuation marks and other symbols](/source/Chess_annotation_symbols). For example: "!" indicates a good move; "!!" an excellent move; "?" a mistake; "??" a blunder; "!?" an interesting move that may not be best; or "?!" a dubious move not easily refuted.[15]

"[Scholar's mate](/source/Scholar's_mate)"

Moves are written as White/Black pairs, preceded by the move number and a period. Individual moves by White are also recorded this way, while moves by Black are written with an ellipsis after the move number. For example, one variation of a simple [trap](/source/List_of_chess_traps) known as the [Scholar's mate](/source/Scholar's_mate) (see animated diagram) can be recorded:

1.e4 e5 2.Qh5[?!](/source/Chess_annotation_symbols#?!) Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6[??](/source/Chess_annotation_symbols#??) 4.Qxf7[#](/source/Algebraic_notation_(chess)##)

The move 3...Nf6?? is recorded as a blunder, as it allows 4.Qxf7 checkmate.

Games or sequences may be recorded in [Portable Game Notation](/source/Portable_Game_Notation) (PGN), a text-based file format with support for annotative symbols, commentary, and background information, such as player names. It is based on short form English algebraic notation incorporating [markup language](/source/Markup_language). PGN transcripts, stored digitally as PGN (.pgn) files can be processed by most chess software and are easily readable by humans.

[Variants of algebraic notation](/source/Algebraic_notation_(chess)#Naming_the_pieces) include *long algebraic*, in which both the departure and destination square are indicated; *abbreviated algebraic*, in which capture signs, check signs, and ranks of pawn captures may be omitted; and *figurine algebraic notation*, used in chess books and magazines, which uses graphic symbols instead of initials to indicate pieces for readability regardless of language.

Until about 1980, the majority of English language chess publications used [descriptive notation](/source/Descriptive_notation), in which files are identified by the initial letter of the piece that occupies the first rank at the beginning of the game. In descriptive notation, the common opening move 1.e4 is rendered as "1.P-K4" ("pawn to king four"). Another system, [ICCF numeric notation](/source/ICCF_numeric_notation), is recognized by the [International Correspondence Chess Federation](/source/International_Correspondence_Chess_Federation).

In tournament games, players are normally required to keep a *[score](/source/Glossary_of_chess#game_score)* (written record of the game). This is a requirement in all FIDE-sanctioned games played at classical time controls.[2] For this purpose, only algebraic notation is recognized by FIDE, though variants such as long algebraic are acceptable; game scores recorded in a different notation system may not be used as evidence in the event of a dispute.

## Gameplay

### Theory

Main articles: [Chess theory](/source/Chess_theory), [Chess libraries](/source/Chess_libraries), [List of chess books](/source/List_of_chess_books), and [List of chess periodicals](/source/List_of_chess_periodicals)

Chess has an extensive literature. In 1913, the chess historian [H.J.R. Murray](/source/H.J.R._Murray) estimated the total number of books, magazines, and [chess columns in newspapers](/source/Chess_columns_in_newspapers) to be about 5,000.[16] [B.H. Wood](/source/Baruch_Harold_Wood) estimated the number, as of 1949, to be about 20,000.[17] [David Hooper](/source/David_Hooper_(chess_player)) and [Kenneth Whyld](/source/Kenneth_Whyld) write that, "Since then there has been a steady increase year by year of the number of new chess publications. No one knows how many have been printed."[17] Significant public chess libraries include the John G. White Chess and Checkers Collection at [Cleveland Public Library](/source/Cleveland_Public_Library), with over 32,000 chess books and over 6,000 bound volumes of chess periodicals;[18] and the Chess & Draughts collection at the [National Library of the Netherlands](/source/National_Library_of_the_Netherlands), with about 30,000 books.[19]

### Strategy

Main article: [Chess strategy](/source/Chess_strategy)

Example of underlying pawn structure a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h Position after 12...Re8 ... Tarrasch vs. Euwe, Bad Pistyan (1922)[20] a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h ... and its pawn structure, known as the Rauzer formation

Chess strategy is concerned with the evaluation of chess positions and with setting up goals and long-term plans for future play. During the evaluation, players must take into account numerous factors such as the value of the pieces on the board, control of the center and centralization, the [pawn structure](/source/Pawn_structure), king safety, and the control of [key squares](/source/Key_square) or groups of squares (for example, diagonals, open files, and dark or light squares).

The most basic step in evaluating a position is to count the [total value of pieces](/source/Chess_piece_relative_value) of both sides.[21] The point values used for this purpose are based on experience; usually, pawns are considered worth one point, knights and bishops about three points each, rooks about five points (the value difference between a rook and a bishop or knight being known as [the exchange](/source/The_exchange_(chess))), and queens about nine points. The king is more valuable than all of the other pieces combined, since its checkmate loses the game, but is still capable as a fighting piece; in the endgame, the king is generally more powerful than a bishop or knight but less powerful than a rook.[22] These basic values are then modified by other factors like position of the piece (e.g. advanced pawns are usually more valuable than those on their initial squares), coordination between pieces (e.g. a pair of bishops usually coordinate better than a bishop and a knight), or the type of position (e.g. knights are generally better in [closed positions](/source/Glossary_of_chess#closed_game) with many pawns while bishops are more powerful in [open positions](/source/Glossary_of_chess#open_game)).[23]

Another important factor in the evaluation of chess positions is *[pawn structure](/source/Pawn_structure)* (sometimes known as the *pawn skeleton*): the configuration of pawns on the chessboard.[24] Since pawns are the least mobile of the pieces, pawn structure is relatively static and largely determines the strategic nature of the position. Weaknesses in pawn structure include [isolated](/source/Isolated_pawn), [doubled](/source/Doubled_pawns), or [backward pawns](/source/Backward_pawn) and [holes](/source/Glossary_of_chess#holes); once created, they are often permanent. Care must therefore be taken to avoid these weaknesses unless they are compensated by another valuable asset (for example, by the possibility of developing an attack).[25]

### Tactics

Main article: [Chess tactic](/source/Chess_tactic)

In chess, tactics generally refer to short-term maneuvers—so short-term that they can be calculated in advance by a human player. The possible depth of calculation depends on the player's ability. In [quiet](/source/Glossary_of_chess#quiet_move) positions with many possibilities on both sides, a deep calculation is more difficult and may not be practical, while in positions with a limited number of [forced](/source/Glossary_of_chess#forced_move) variations, strong players can calculate long sequences of moves.

Theoreticians describe many elementary tactical methods and typical maneuvers, for example: [pins](/source/Pin_(chess)), [forks](/source/Fork_(chess)), [skewers](/source/Skewer_(chess)), [batteries](/source/Battery_(chess)), [discovered attacks](/source/Discovered_attack) (especially discovered checks), [zwischenzugs](/source/Zwischenzug), [deflections](/source/Deflection_(chess)), [decoys](/source/Decoy_(chess)), [sacrifices](/source/Sacrifice_(chess)), [underminings](/source/Undermining_(chess)), [overloadings](/source/Overloading_(chess)), and [interferences](/source/Interference_(chess)).[26] Simple one-move or two-move tactical actions—threats, exchanges of [material](/source/Glossary_of_chess#material), and double attacks—can be combined into longer sequences of tactical maneuvers that are often forced from the point of view of one or both players. A forced variation that involves a sacrifice and usually results in a tangible gain is called a *[combination](/source/Combination_(chess))*.[27] Brilliant combinations, such as those in the [Immortal Game](/source/Immortal_Game), are considered beautiful and are admired by chess lovers.

A [common type of chess exercise](/source/Chess_puzzle#Tactical_puzzles), aimed at developing players' tactical skills, is a position where a combination is available and the challenge is to find it. Such positions are usually handcrafted, taken from actual games or from analysis of actual games. Solutions usually result in checkmate, decisive advantage, or successful defense. Tactical exercises are commonly found in instructional books, chess magazines, newspaper chess columns, and internet chess sites.[28]

### Phases

Chess theory divides chess games into three phases with different sets of strategies: the [opening](#Opening), the [middlegame](#Middlegame), and lastly the [endgame](#Endgame). There is no universally accepted way to delineate the three phases of the game; the middlegame is typically considered to have begun after 10–20 moves, and the endgame when only a few pieces remain.

#### Opening

Main article: [Chess opening](/source/Chess_opening)

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h

The [Najdorf Variation](/source/Sicilian_Defense%2C_Najdorf_Variation) (5...a6), a popular line of the [Sicilian Defense](/source/Sicilian_Defense) (1...c5), itself a response to the [King's Pawn Game](/source/King's_Pawn_Game) (1.e4)

Competitive players typically learn, memorize, and play well-documented sequences of opening moves. The most common starting moves for White are 1.[e4](/source/King's_Pawn_Game) and 1.[d4](/source/Queen's_Pawn_Game), which usually lead to substantially different types of positions, and Black has multiple viable responses to both.

Sequences of opening moves are referred to as *openings* and are catalogued in reference works, such as the *[Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings](/source/Encyclopaedia_of_Chess_Openings)*. There are thousands of openings, though only a small fraction of them are commonly played; variations of openings may also be given names. Openings vary widely in character from quiet [positional play](/source/Glossary_of_chess#positional_play) (for example, the [Réti Opening](/source/R%C3%A9ti_Opening)) to [sharp](/source/Glossary_of_chess#sharp) aggressive play (like the [Latvian Gambit](/source/Latvian_Gambit)). In some opening lines, the exact sequence considered best for both sides has been worked out to more than 30 moves.[29]

The fundamental strategic aims of most openings are similar:[30]

- *Development:* moving pieces (particularly bishops and knights) forward to squares on which they are useful (defending, attacking, and controlling important squares) or have the potential to take part in future plans and ideas.

- *Control of the [center](/source/Glossary_of_chess#center):* control of the central squares allows pieces to be moved to any part of the board relatively easily, and can inhibit the mobility of the opponent's pieces.

- *King safety:* typically secured by castling; incorrectly timed castling can be wasteful or even harmful, however.

- *[Pawn structure](/source/Pawn_structure):* players strive to avoid the creation of pawn weaknesses such as isolated, doubled, or backward pawns—and to force such weaknesses in the opponent's position.

Most players and [theoreticians](/source/Chess_theory) consider that White, by virtue of the [initiative](/source/Initiative_(chess)) granted from moving first, [begins the game with a small advantage](/source/First-move_advantage_in_chess).[31] Black usually strives to neutralize White's advantage and achieve [equality](/source/Glossary_of_chess#equality), or to develop [dynamic](/source/Glossary_of_chess#dynamic) [counterplay](/source/Glossary_of_chess#counterplay) in an unbalanced position.

#### Middlegame

Main article: [Chess middlegame](/source/Chess_middlegame)

The middlegame is the part of the game that starts after the opening. Because the opening theory has ended, players have to form plans based on the features of the position, and at the same time take into account the tactical possibilities of the position.[32] The middlegame is the phase in which most [combinations](/source/Combination_(chess)) occur. Combinations are a series of tactical moves executed to achieve some gain. Middlegame combinations are often connected with an attack against the opponent's king. Some typical patterns have their own names; for example, the [Boden's Mate](/source/Boden's_Mate) or the [Lasker–Bauer](/source/Lasker_-_Bauer%2C_Amsterdam%2C_1889) combination.[33]

Specific plans or strategic themes will often arise from particular groups of openings that result in a specific type of pawn structure. An example is the [minority attack](/source/Minority_attack), which is the attack of queenside pawns against an opponent who has more pawns on the queenside. The study of openings is therefore connected to the preparation of plans that are typical of the resulting middlegames.[34]

Another important strategic question in the middlegame is whether and how to reduce material and transition into an endgame (i.e. [simplify](/source/Glossary_of_chess#simplify)). Minor material advantages can generally be transformed into victory only in an endgame, and therefore the stronger side must choose an appropriate way to achieve an ending. Not every reduction of material is good for this purpose; for example, if one side keeps a light-squared bishop and the opponent has a dark-squared one, the transformation into a [bishops and pawns](/source/Chess_endgame#Bishop_and_pawn_endings) ending is usually advantageous for the weaker side only, because an endgame with [bishops on opposite colors](/source/Opposite-colored_bishops_endgame) is likely to be a draw, even with an advantage of a pawn, or sometimes even with a two-pawn advantage.[35]

#### Endgame

Main article: [Chess endgame](/source/Chess_endgame)

Example of mutual zugzwang

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h

The side to move is disadvantaged.

The endgame (also *end game* or *ending*) is the stage of the game when there are few pieces left on the board. There are three main strategic differences between earlier stages of the game and the endgame:[36]

- Pawns become more important. Endgames often revolve around endeavors to [promote](/source/Promotion_(chess)) a pawn by advancing it to the furthest [rank](/source/Glossary_of_chess#rank).

- The king, which requires safeguarding from attack during the middlegame, emerges as a strong piece in the endgame. It is often used to protect its own pawns, attack enemy pawns, and hinder moves of the opponent's king.

- [Stalemates](/source/Stalemate) are much more common, as the few pieces remaining for a player may run out of moves. Stalemate is sometimes accidentally reached by newer players who end up restricting all of their opponent's possible moves.

- [Zugzwang](/source/Zugzwang), a situation in which the player who is to move is forced to incur a disadvantage, is often a factor in endgames but rarely in other stages of the game. In the example diagram, either side having the move is in zugzwang: Black to move must play 1...Kb7 allowing White to promote the pawn after 2.Kd7; White to move must permit a draw, either by 1.Kc6 [stalemate](/source/Stalemate) or by losing the pawn after any other legal move.

Endgames can be classified according to the type of pieces remaining on the board. [Basic checkmates](/source/Checkmate#Basic_checkmates) are positions in which one side has only a king and the other side has one or two pieces and can checkmate the opposing king, with the pieces working together with their king. For example, [king and pawn endgames](/source/King_and_pawn_endgame) involve only kings and pawns on one or both sides, and the task of the stronger side is to promote one of the pawns. Other more complicated endings are classified according to pieces on the board other than kings, such as "[rook and pawn versus rook](/source/Rook_and_pawn_versus_rook)" endgames.

## Handicaps

Main article: [Handicap (chess)](/source/Handicap_(chess))

[Handicaps](/source/Handicap_(chess)) (or odds) in chess are setup or rule modifications which enable a weaker player to have a higher chance of winning against a stronger one. There are a variety of such handicaps, such as [material](/source/Glossary_of_chess#material) odds (the stronger player surrenders a certain piece or pieces), extra moves (the weaker player has an agreed number of moves at the beginning of the game), extra time on the [chess clock](/source/Chess_clock), and special conditions (such as requiring the odds-giver to deliver [checkmate](/source/Checkmate) with a specified piece or pawn). Various permutations of these, such as *pawn and two moves*, are also possible.

Handicaps were quite popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, when chess was often played for money stakes, in order to induce weaker players to play for wagers. Today handicaps are rarely seen in serious competition outside of [human–computer chess matches](/source/Human%E2%80%93computer_chess_matches). As [chess engines](/source/Chess_engine) have been routinely superior to even [chess masters](/source/Chess_master) since the late 20th century, human players need considerable odds to have practical chances in such matches – as of 2024, approximately knight odds for grandmasters.

## Problems and studies

[Richard Réti](/source/Richard_R%C3%A9ti)
*[Ostrauer](/source/Ostrava) Morgenzeitung*, 1921

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h

White to move and draw

[This endgame study](/source/R%C3%A9ti_endgame_study) is solved by advancing the white king [diagonally](/source/Diagonal), simultaneously stopping the black pawn and supporting the white pawn on its way to [queen](/source/Glossary_of_chess#queening).[37]

[Chess problems](/source/Chess_problems) (also called chess compositions) are composed positions, usually created for artistic effect rather than practical application. The creator is known as a [chess composer](/source/Chess_composer).[38] There are many types of chess problems, the most common being [directmates](/source/Glossary_of_chess_problems#directmates), in which White is required to move and checkmate Black within a specified number of moves, usually two or three, against any defense.

These are commonly referred to as "two-movers", "three-movers", or "more-movers". "Many-movers" (also known as "long-range problems") of over 100 moves have been composed, the current record standing at over 200; these usually require repetitions of the same manoeuvre in order to produce a repeated [zugzwang](/source/Zugzwang) and force detrimental pawn advances.[39][40]

Directmates usually consist of positions unlikely to occur in an actual game, and are intended to illustrate a particular *[theme](/source/Glossary_of_chess_problems#theme)*, usually requiring a surprising or counterintuitive *[key](/source/Glossary_of_chess_problems#key)* move. Themes associated with chess problems occasionally appear in actual games, when they are referred to as "problem-like" moves.[41]

Other common types of problems include:

- [Helpmates](/source/Helpmate), in which Black moves first and cooperates with White to get Black's king checkmated

- [Selfmates](/source/Selfmate), in which White moves first and forces Black to checkmate White

- [Retrograde analysis problems](/source/Retrograde_analysis_problems), in which the solver is required to work out what has previously occurred in the game, for example to prove that castling is illegal in the current position

The above type of problems are usually considered orthodox, in the sense that the standard rules of chess are observed.

[Fairy chess](/source/Fairy_chess) problems, also called heterodox problems, involve altered rules, such as the use of unconventional pieces or boards, or stipulations that contradict the standard rules of chess such as [reflexmates](/source/Reflexmate) or [seriesmovers](/source/Seriesmover).

[Studies](/source/Endgame_study) are usually considered distinct from problems, although there is some overlap. In a study, the stipulation is that White to play must win or draw, without specifying any particular number of moves. The majority of studies are [endgame](/source/Chess_endgame) positions, with varying degrees of realism or practical application.[42]

Tournaments for composition and solving of chess problems and studies are organized by the [World Federation for Chess Composition](/source/World_Federation_for_Chess_Composition) (WFCC), which works cooperatively with but independent of FIDE. The WFCC awards titles for composing and solving chess problems.[43]

## Chess in public spaces

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Chess is often played in public spaces such as parks and town squares. Although the nature of these games is often [casual](/source/Glossary_of_chess#friendly_game), the chess [hustling](/source/Hustling) scene has seen growth in urban areas such as [New York City](/source/New_York_City).[44]

		- A child playing chess in [Washington Square Park](/source/Washington_Square_Park), New York City, US

		- Public chess tables in the [Jardin du Luxembourg](/source/Jardin_du_Luxembourg), Paris, France

		- Men playing chess, [Kutaisi](/source/Kutaisi), Georgia, 2014

		- A girl playing chess in [Mexico City](/source/Mexico_City), Mexico

		- Chess game in [Kilifi](/source/Kilifi), Kenya

		- Giant chess in [Cathedral Square](/source/Cathedral_Square%2C_Christchurch), [Christchurch](/source/Christchurch), New Zealand, 2005

		- Boys playing chess on a street in [Santiago de Cuba](/source/Santiago_de_Cuba), Cuba

		- Chess players in the [Széchenyi baths](/source/Sz%C3%A9chenyi_thermal_bath) of [Budapest](/source/Budapest), Hungary

		- A girl playing chess in [Salatiga](/source/Salatiga), Indonesia

		- Two men play chess at the Ariman cafe in [Lund](/source/Lund) in 2007

		- A six-year-old girl playing chess at a public square (Praça Serzedelo Correia, Copacabana) in [Rio de Janeiro](/source/Rio_de_Janeiro), Brazil, in 2026

## Organized competition

### Tournaments and matches

Contemporary chess is an organized sport with structured international and national leagues, tournaments, and [congresses](/source/Congress). Thousands of chess tournaments, matches, and festivals are held around the world every year catering to players of all levels.

[Tata Steel Chess Tournament](/source/Tata_Steel_Chess_Tournament) 2019, Wijk aan Zee (the Netherlands)

Tournaments with a small number of players may use the [round-robin](/source/Round-robin_tournament) format, in which every player plays one game against every other player. For a large number of players, the [Swiss system](/source/Swiss-system_tournament) may be used, in which each player is paired against an opponent who has the same (or as similar as possible) score in each round. In either case, a player's score is usually calculated as 1 point for each game won and one-half point for each game drawn. Variations such as "football scoring" (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw) may be used by tournament organizers, but ratings are always calculated on the basis of standard scoring. A player's score [may be reported](/source/Chess_scoring) as total score out of games played (e.g. 5½/8), points for versus points against (e.g. 5½–2½), or by number of wins, losses and draws (e.g. +4−1=3).

The term "match" refers not to an individual game, but to either a series of games between two players, or a team competition in which each player of one team plays one game against a player of the other team.

### Governance

Chess's international governing body is usually known by its French acronym [FIDE](/source/FIDE) (pronounced FEE-day; [French](/source/French_language): *Fédération Internationale des Échecs*), or International Chess Federation. FIDE's membership consists of the national chess organizations of over 180 countries; there are also several associate members, including various supra-national organizations, the [International Braille Chess Association](/source/International_Braille_Chess_Association) (IBCA), [International Chess Committee of the Deaf](https://chessdeaf.org/) (ICCD), and the [International Physically Disabled Chess Association](https://ipcachess.org/) (IPCA).[45] FIDE is recognized as a [sports governing body](/source/Sports_governing_body) by the [International Olympic Committee](/source/International_Olympic_Committee),[46] but chess has never been part of the [Olympic Games](/source/Olympic_Games).

[Garry Kasparov](/source/Garry_Kasparov), former World Chess Champion

FIDE's most visible activity is organizing the [World Chess Championship](/source/World_Chess_Championship), a role it assumed in 1948. The current World Champion is [Gukesh Dommaraju](/source/Gukesh_Dommaraju) of India.[47][48] The reigning [Women's World Champion](/source/Women's_World_Chess_Championship) is [Ju Wenjun](/source/Ju_Wenjun) from China.[49]

Other competitions for individuals include the [World Junior Chess Championship](/source/World_Junior_Chess_Championship), the [European Individual Chess Championship](/source/European_Individual_Chess_Championship), the [tournaments for the World Championship qualification cycle](/source/Candidates_Tournament), and the various [national championships](/source/List_of_national_chess_championships). Invitation-only tournaments regularly attract the world's strongest players. Examples include Spain's [Linares](/source/Linares_chess_tournament) event, Monte Carlo's [Melody Amber](/source/Melody_Amber) tournament, the [Dortmund Sparkassen](/source/Dortmund_Sparkassen_Chess_Meeting) meeting, Sofia's [M-tel Masters](/source/M-tel_Masters), and [Wijk aan Zee](/source/Wijk_aan_Zee)'s [Tata Steel](/source/Tata_Steel_Chess_Tournament) tournament.

Regular team chess events include the [Chess Olympiad](/source/Chess_Olympiad) and the [European Team Chess Championship](/source/European_Team_Chess_Championship).

The [World Chess Solving Championship](/source/World_Chess_Solving_Championship) and [World Correspondence Chess Championship](/source/World_Correspondence_Chess_Championship) include both team and individual events. These are held independently of FIDE by, respectively, the [World Federation for Chess Composition](/source/World_Federation_for_Chess_Composition) (WFCC) and the [International Correspondence Chess Federation](/source/International_Correspondence_Chess_Federation) (ICCF).

### Titles and rankings

Main article: [Chess titles](/source/Chess_titles)

In order to rank players, FIDE, [ICCF](/source/International_Correspondence_Chess_Federation), and most national chess organizations use the [Elo rating system](/source/Elo_rating_system) developed by [Arpad Elo](/source/Arpad_Elo). An average club player has a rating of about 1500. The highest FIDE rating of all time is 2882, which has been achieved by [Magnus Carlsen](/source/Magnus_Carlsen) twice, in May 2014 and August 2019.[50]

Players may be awarded lifetime titles by FIDE:[52]

- [Grandmaster](/source/Grandmaster_(chess)) (GM) is the highest title a chess player can attain. For the GM title, a player must have had an Elo rating of 2500 or more at least once and must achieve three results of a prescribed standard (called norms) in tournaments involving other grandmasters, including some from countries other than the applicant's. There are other milestones that can substitute for norms, such as winning the World Junior Championship.

- [International Master](/source/International_Master) (IM). The conditions are similar to GM, but less demanding. The minimum rating for the IM title is 2400.

- [FIDE Master](/source/FIDE_Master) (FM). The usual way for a player to qualify for the FIDE Master title is by achieving a FIDE rating of 2300 or more.

- [Candidate Master](/source/Candidate_Master) (CM). Similar to FM, but with a FIDE rating of at least 2200.

The above titles are known as "open" titles, obtainable by both men and women. There are also separate women-only titles: Woman Grandmaster (WGM), Woman International Master (WIM), Woman FIDE Master (WFM) and Woman Candidate Master (WCM). These require a performance level approximately 200 rating points below their respective open titles. The continued existence of women-only titles has been debated; critics, including former world championship challenger [Judit Polgár](/source/Judit_Polg%C3%A1r), have argued that separate titles are unnecessary and reinforce gender distinctions rather than competitive standards.[53] Beginning with [Nona Gaprindashvili](/source/Nona_Gaprindashvili) in 1978, a number of women have earned the open GM title: 40 as of July 2023[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chess&action=edit).[note 2]

FIDE also awards titles for arbiters and trainers.[54][55] International titles are also awarded to composers and solvers of chess problems and to correspondence chess players (by the [International Correspondence Chess Federation](/source/International_Correspondence_Chess_Federation)). National chess organizations may also award titles.

## History

Main article: [History of chess](/source/History_of_chess)

### Origins

[Sasanian Empire](/source/Sasanian_Empire) King [Khosrow I](/source/Khosrow_I) sits on his throne before the chessboard, while his vizir and the Indian envoy Deva Sharma, probably sent by the [Maukhari](/source/Maukhari) King [Śarvavarman](/source/%C5%9Aarvavarman) of [Kannauj](/source/Kannauj), are playing chess. *[Shahnama](/source/Shahnama)*, 10th century AD.[56][57]

Texts referring to the origins of chess date from the beginning of the seventh century. Three are written in *Pahlavi* ([Middle Persian](/source/Middle_Persian))[58] and one, the *[Harshacharita](/source/Harshacharita)*, is in [Sanskrit](/source/Sanskrit).[59] One of these texts, the *Chatrang-namak*, represents one of the earliest written accounts of chess. The narrator [Bozorgmehr](/source/Bozorgmehr) explains that *Chatrang*, "Chess" in Pahlavi, was introduced to Persia by '[Dewasarm](/source/Sharvavarman), a great ruler of India' during the reign of [Khosrow I](/source/Khosrow_I):[60]

Dewasarm has fashioned this *[chatrang](/source/Chatrang)* after the likeness of a battle, and in its likeness are two supreme rulers after the likeness of Kings (shah), with the essentials of rooks (rukh) to right and to left, with Counsellor (farzin) in the likeness of a commander of the champions, with the Elephant (pil) in the likeness of the commander of the rearguard, with Horse (asp) in the likeness of the commander of the cavalry, with the Footsoldier (piyadak) in the likeness of so many infantry in the vanguard of the battle.

— Translation by Murray, 1913.[61]

An illustration from a Persian manuscript "A treatise on chess". The Ambassadors from India present the Chatrang to Khosrow I Anushirwan, "Immortal Soul", King of Persia, 14th century AD.

The oldest known chess manual was in Arabic and dates to about 840, written by [al-Adli ar-Rumi](/source/Al-Adli_ar-Rumi) (800–870), a renowned Arab chess player, titled *Kitab ash-shatranj* (The Book of Chess). This is a lost manuscript, but is referenced in later works.[62] Here also, al-Adli attributes the origins of Persian chess to India, along with the eighth-century collection of fables [Kalīla wa-Dimna](/source/Kal%C4%ABla_wa-Dimna).[63] By the 20th century, a substantial consensus[64][65] developed regarding chess's origins in northwest [India](/source/India) in the early seventh century.[66] More recently, this consensus has been the subject of further scrutiny.[67]

African Muslims playing chess; 1283 A.D. Miniature from [Alfonso X](/source/Alfonso_X_of_Castile)'s *Book of chess, dice and boards*

The early forms of chess in India were known as *[chaturaṅga](/source/Chatura%E1%B9%85ga)* ([Sanskrit](/source/Sanskrit_language): चतुरङ्ग), literally "four divisions" [of the military] – [infantry](/source/Infantry), [cavalry](/source/Cavalry), [elephants](/source/War_elephant), and [chariotry](/source/Chariot) – represented by pieces that would later evolve into the modern pawn, knight, bishop, and rook, respectively. Chaturanga was played on an 8×8 uncheckered board, called *[ashtāpada](/source/Asht%C4%81pada)*.[68] Thence it spread eastward and westward along the [Silk Road](/source/Silk_Road). The earliest evidence of chess is found in nearby [Sasanian Persia](/source/Sasanian_Persia) around 600 A.D., where the game came to be known by the name *[chatrang](/source/Chatrang)* ([Persian](/source/Persian_language): چترنگ).[69] Chatrang was taken up by the [Muslim world](/source/Muslim_world) after the [Islamic conquest of Persia](/source/Islamic_conquest_of_Persia) (633–51), where it was then named *[shatranj](/source/Shatranj)* ([Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): شطرنج; [Persian](/source/Persian_language): شترنج), with the pieces largely retaining their Persian names. In Spanish, "shatranj" was rendered as *ajedrez* ("al-shatranj"), in [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_language) as *xadrez*, and in [Greek](/source/Greek_language) as ζατρίκιον (*zatrikion*, which comes directly from the Persian *chatrang*),[70] but in the rest of Europe it was replaced by versions of the Persian *shāh* ("king"), from which the English words "check" and "chess" descend.[note 3] The word "[checkmate](/source/Checkmate)" is derived from the Persian *shāh māt* ("the king is dead").[71]

[Knights Templar](/source/Knights_Templar) playing chess, *[Libro de los juegos](/source/Libro_de_los_juegos)*, 1283

[Xiangqi](/source/Xiangqi) is the form of chess best known in China. The eastern migration of chess, into China and Southeast Asia, has even less documentation than its migration west, making it largely conjectured. The word *xiàngqí* (象棋) was used in China to refer to a game from 569 A.D. at the latest, but it has not been proven that this game was directly related to chess.[72][73] The first reference to Chinese chess appears in a book entitled *Xuánguaì Lù* (玄怪錄; "Record of the Mysterious and Strange"), dating to about 800. A minority view holds that Western chess arose from xiàngqí or one of its predecessors.[74][75] Chess historians Jean-Louis Cazaux and Rick Knowlton contend that xiangqi's intrinsic characteristics make it easier to construct an evolutionary path from China to India/Persia than the opposite direction.[76]

The oldest archaeological chess artifacts – ivory pieces – were excavated in ancient [Afrasiab](/source/Afrasiyab_(Samarkand)), today's [Samarkand](/source/Samarkand), in [Uzbekistan](/source/Uzbekistan), Central Asia, and date to about 760, with some of them possibly being older. Remarkably, almost all findings of the oldest pieces come from along the Silk Road, from the former regions of the Tarim Basin (today's Xinjiang in China), [Transoxiana](/source/Transoxiana), [Sogdiana](/source/Sogdiana), [Bactria](/source/Bactria), [Gandhara](/source/Gandhara), to Iran on one end and to India through [Kashmir](/source/Kashmir) on the other.[77]

Some of the seven Early Islamic chess pieces excavated in [Samarkand](/source/Afrasiyab_(Samarkand)) in 1977, dating to the 700s and among the oldest in the world.[78] The ivory came from India.

The game reached Western Europe and Russia via at least three routes, the earliest being in the ninth century. By the year 1000, it had spread throughout both the [Muslim Iberia](/source/Al_Andalus) and [Latin Europe](/source/Latin_Christianity).[79] A Latin poem called *[Versus de scachis](/source/Versus_de_scachis)* ("Verses on Chess") dated to the late 10th century, has been preserved at [Einsiedeln Abbey](/source/Einsiedeln_Abbey) in Switzerland.

### 1200–1700: Origins of the modern game

*The Game of Chess* (1555) by [Sofonisba Anguissola](/source/Sofonisba_Anguissola), depicting her sisters [Lucia](/source/Lucia_Anguissola) (*left*), [Minerva](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minerva_Anguissola) (*right*), and [Europa](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_Anguissola)  (*middle*) playing chess. The older woman is their maidservant.

The game of chess was then played and known in all European countries. A famous 13th-century Spanish manuscript covering chess, [backgammon](/source/Backgammon), and [dice](/source/Dice) is known as the *[Libro de los juegos](/source/Libro_de_los_juegos)*, which is the earliest [European](/source/Europe) treatise on chess as well as being the oldest document on European [tables games](/source/Tables_games).[80] The rules were fundamentally similar to those of the Arabic [shatranj](/source/Shatranj). The differences were mostly in the use of a checkered board instead of a plain monochrome board used by Arabs and the habit of allowing some or all pawns to make an initial double step. In some regions, the queen, which had replaced the [wazir](/source/Wazir_(chess)), or the king could also make an initial two-square leap under some conditions.[81]

A tactics puzzle from [Lucena's](/source/Luis_Ram%C3%ADrez_de_Lucena) 1497 book

Around 1200, the rules of shatranj started to be modified in Europe, culminating, several major changes later, in the emergence of modern chess practically as it is known today.[82] A major change was the modern piece movement rules, which began to appear in intellectual circles in [Valencia](/source/Valencia), Spain, around 1475,[note 4] which established the foundations and brought it very close to current chess. These new rules then were quickly adopted in Italy and Southern France before diffusing into the rest of Europe.[85][86] Pawns gained the ability to advance two squares on their first move, while bishops and queens acquired their modern movement powers. The [queen](/source/Queen_(chess)) replaced the earlier [vizier](/source/Vizier#Influence_on_chess) chess piece toward the end of the 10th century and by the 15th century had become the most powerful piece;[87] in light of that, modern chess was often referred to at the time as "Queen's Chess" or "Mad Queen Chess".[88] Castling, derived from the "king's leap", usually in combination with a pawn or rook move to bring the king to safety, was introduced. These new rules quickly spread throughout Western Europe.

Writings about [chess theory](/source/Chess_theory) began to appear in the late 15th century. An [anonymous treatise on chess of 1490](/source/G%C3%B6ttingen_manuscript) with the first part containing some openings and the second 30 endgames is deposited in the library of the [University of Göttingen](/source/University_of_G%C3%B6ttingen).[89] The book *El Libro dels jochs partitis dels schachs en nombre de 100* was written by [Francesc Vicent](/source/Francesc_Vicent) in [Segorbe](/source/Segorbe) in 1495, but no copy of this work has survived.[89] The *Repetición de Amores y Arte de Ajedrez* (*Repetition of Love and the Art of Playing Chess*) by [Spanish](/source/Spanish_people) churchman [Luis Ramírez de Lucena](/source/Luis_Ram%C3%ADrez_de_Lucena) was published in [Salamanca](/source/Salamanca) in 1497.[86] Lucena and later masters like Portuguese [Pedro Damiano](/source/Pedro_Damiano), Italians [Giovanni Leonardo Di Bona](/source/Giovanni_Leonardo_Di_Bona), [Giulio Cesare Polerio](/source/Giulio_Cesare_Polerio) and [Gioachino Greco](/source/Gioachino_Greco), and Spanish bishop [Ruy López de Segura](/source/Ruy_L%C3%B3pez_de_Segura) developed elements of [opening theory](#Opening) and started to analyze simple [endgames](#Endgame).

### 1700–1873: Romantic era

The "[Immortal Game](/source/Immortal_Game)", Anderssen vs. Kieseritzky, 1851

In the 18th century, the center of European chess life moved from Southern Europe to mainland France.[90] The two most important French masters were [François-André Danican Philidor](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois-Andr%C3%A9_Danican_Philidor), a musician by profession, who discovered the importance of pawns for chess strategy, and later [Louis-Charles Mahé de La Bourdonnais](/source/Louis-Charles_Mah%C3%A9_de_La_Bourdonnais), who won a famous series of matches against Irish master [Alexander McDonnell](/source/Alexander_McDonnell_(chess_player)) in 1834.[91] Centers of chess activity in this period were [coffee houses](/source/Coffee_house) in major European cities like *[Café de la Régence](/source/Caf%C3%A9_de_la_R%C3%A9gence)* in Paris and *[Simpson's Divan](/source/Simpson's-in-the-Strand)* in London.[92][93]

At the same time, the [Romantic](/source/Romanticism) intellectual movement had had a far-reaching impact on chess, with aesthetics and tactical beauty being held in higher regard than objective soundness and strategic planning. As a result, virtually all games began with the [Open Game](/source/Open_Game), and it was considered unsportsmanlike to decline gambits that invited tactical play such as the [King's Gambit](/source/King's_Gambit) and the [Evans Gambit](/source/Evans_Gambit).[94] This chess philosophy is known as [Romantic chess](/source/Romantic_chess), and its sharp, tactical style of play was predominant until the late 19th century.[95]

[The rules concerning stalemate](/source/Stalemate#History_of_the_stalemate_rule) were finalized in the early 19th century. Also in the 19th century, the convention that White moves first was established (formerly either White or Black could move first). Finally, the rules around castling and en passant captures were standardized—variations in these rules persisted in Italy until the late 19th century. The resulting standard game is sometimes referred to as *Western chess*[96] or *international chess*,[97] particularly in Asia where other games of the chess family such as [xiangqi](/source/Xiangqi) are prevalent. Since the 19th century, the only rule changes, such as the establishment of the correct procedure for claiming a draw by repetition, have been technical in nature.

A depiction of the chess match between [Howard Staunton](/source/Howard_Staunton) and [Pierre Saint-Amant](/source/Pierre_Charles_Fournier_de_Saint-Amant), on 16 December 1843

As the 19th century progressed, chess organization developed quickly. Many [chess clubs](/source/Chess_club), chess books, and chess journals appeared. There were correspondence matches between cities; for example, the London Chess Club played against the [Edinburgh](/source/Edinburgh) Chess Club in 1824.[98] [Chess problems](/source/Chess_problems) became a regular part of 19th-century newspapers; [Bernhard Horwitz](/source/Bernhard_Horwitz), [Josef Kling](/source/Josef_Kling), and [Samuel Loyd](/source/Samuel_Loyd) composed some of the most influential problems. In 1843, [von der Lasa](/source/Tassilo_von_Heydebrand_und_der_Lasa) published his and [Bilguer's](/source/Paul_Rudolf_von_Bilguer) *[Handbuch des Schachspiels](/source/Handbuch_des_Schachspiels)* (*Handbook of Chess*), the first comprehensive manual of chess theory.

The first modern chess tournament was organized by [Howard Staunton](/source/Howard_Staunton), a leading English chess player, and was [held in London in 1851](/source/London_1851_chess_tournament). It was won by the German [Adolf Anderssen](/source/Adolf_Anderssen), who was hailed as the leading chess master. His energetic attacking style was [typical for the time](/source/Romantic_chess).[99][100] Sparkling games like Anderssen's [Immortal Game](/source/Immortal_Game) and [Evergreen Game](/source/Evergreen_Game) or [Morphy's](/source/Paul_Morphy) "[Opera Game](/source/Morphy_versus_the_Duke_of_Brunswick_and_Count_Isouard)" were regarded as the highest possible summit of the art of chess.[101] Deeper insight into the nature of chess came with the American [Paul Morphy](/source/Paul_Morphy), an extraordinary [chess prodigy](/source/Chess_prodigy). Morphy won against all important competitors (except Staunton, who refused to play), including Anderssen, during his short chess career between 1857 and 1863.[102]

### 1873–1945: Birth of a sport

[Wilhelm Steinitz](/source/Wilhelm_Steinitz), the first official [World Chess Champion](/source/World_Chess_Champion) (1886–1894)

[Prague](/source/Prague)-born [Wilhelm Steinitz](/source/Wilhelm_Steinitz) laid the foundations for a scientific approach to the game, the art of breaking a position down into components[103] and preparing correct plans.[104] In addition to his theoretical achievements, Steinitz founded an important tradition: his triumph over the leading German master [Johannes Zukertort](/source/Johannes_Zukertort) in 1886 is regarded as the first official [World Chess Championship](/source/World_Chess_Championship). This win marked a stylistic transition at the highest levels of chess from an attacking, tactical style predominant in the Romantic era to a more positional, strategic style introduced to the chess world by Steinitz. Steinitz lost his crown in 1894 to a much younger player, the German mathematician [Emanuel Lasker](/source/Emanuel_Lasker), who maintained this title for 27 years, the longest tenure of any world champion.[105]

After the end of the 19th century, the number of master tournaments and matches held annually quickly grew. The first [Olympiad](/source/Chess_Olympiad) was held in Paris in 1924, and [FIDE](/source/FIDE) was founded initially for the purpose of organizing that event. In 1927, the [Women's World Chess Championship](/source/Women's_World_Chess_Championship) was established; the first to hold the title was Czech-English master [Vera Menchik](/source/Vera_Menchik).[106]

A prodigy from Cuba, [José Raúl Capablanca](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Ra%C3%BAl_Capablanca), known for his skill in endgames, won the World Championship from Lasker in 1921. Capablanca was undefeated in tournament play for eight years, from 1916 to 1924. His successor (1927) was the Russian-French [Alexander Alekhine](/source/Alexander_Alekhine), a strong attacking player who died as the world champion in 1946. Alekhine briefly lost the title to Dutch player [Max Euwe](/source/Max_Euwe) in 1935 and regained it two years later.[107]

In the [interwar period](/source/Interwar_period), chess was revolutionized by the new theoretical school of so-called [hypermodernists](/source/Hypermodernism_(chess)) like [Aron Nimzowitsch](/source/Aron_Nimzowitsch) and [Richard Réti](/source/Richard_R%C3%A9ti). They advocated controlling the [center](/source/Glossary_of_chess#center) of the board with distant pieces rather than with pawns, thus inviting opponents to occupy the center with pawns, which become objects of attack.[108] Among the innovations popularized by hypermodernists was the [fianchetto](/source/Fianchetto): the development of bishops away from, rather than towards, the center, onto the b- and g-files.

### 1945–1990: Post-World War II era

[Mikhail Botvinnik](/source/Mikhail_Botvinnik), the first post-war World Champion

After the death of Alekhine, a new World Champion was sought. FIDE, which has controlled the title since then, ran a tournament of elite players. The winner of the [1948 tournament](/source/World_Chess_Championship_1948) was Russian [Mikhail Botvinnik](/source/Mikhail_Botvinnik). In 1950, FIDE established a system of titles, conferring the title of [Grandmaster](/source/Grandmaster_(chess)) on 27 players. (Some sources state that, in 1914, the title of chess Grandmaster was first formally conferred by Tsar [Nicholas II of Russia](/source/Nicholas_II_of_Russia) to Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, [Tarrasch](/source/Siegbert_Tarrasch), and [Marshall](/source/Frank_Marshall_(chess_player)), but this is a disputed claim.[note 5])

Botvinnik started an era of [Soviet](/source/Soviet_Union) dominance in the chess world, which mainly through the Soviet government's politically inspired efforts to demonstrate intellectual superiority over the West[109][110] stood almost uninterrupted for more than a half-century. Until the [dissolution of the Soviet Union](/source/Dissolution_of_the_Soviet_Union), there was only one non-Soviet champion, American [Bobby Fischer](/source/Bobby_Fischer) (champion 1972–1975).[111] Botvinnik also revolutionized [opening theory](/source/Chess_theory#Opening_theory). Previously, Black strove for equality, attempting to neutralize White's [first-move advantage](/source/First-move_advantage_in_chess). As Black, Botvinnik strove for the initiative from the beginning.[112] In the previous informal system of World Championships, the current champion decided which challenger he would play for the title and the challenger was forced to seek sponsors for the match. FIDE set up a new system of qualifying tournaments and matches. The world's strongest players were seeded into [Interzonal](/source/Interzonal) tournaments, where they were joined by players who had qualified from Zonal tournaments (often national or regional championships). The leading finishers in these Interzonals would go through the "[Candidates](/source/Candidates_Tournament)" stage, which was initially a tournament, and later a series of knockout matches. The winner of the Candidates would then play the reigning champion for the title. A champion defeated in a match had a right to play a rematch a year later. This system operated on a three-year cycle. Botvinnik participated in championship matches over a period of fifteen years. He won the world championship tournament in 1948 and retained the title in tied matches in 1951 and 1954. In 1957, he lost to [Vasily Smyslov](/source/Vasily_Smyslov), but regained the title in a rematch in 1958. In 1960, he lost the title to the 23-year-old Latvian prodigy [Mikhail Tal](/source/Mikhail_Tal), an accomplished [tactician](/source/Chess_tactics) and attacking player who is widely regarded as one of the most creative players ever,[113] hence his nickname "the magician from Riga". Botvinnik again regained the title in a rematch in 1961.

[Bobby Fischer](/source/Bobby_Fischer), World Champion from 1972 to 1975

Following the 1961 event, FIDE abolished the automatic right of a deposed champion to a rematch, and the next champion, Armenian [Tigran Petrosian](/source/Tigran_Petrosian), a player renowned for his defensive and positional skills, held the title for two cycles, 1963–1969. His successor, [Boris Spassky](/source/Boris_Spassky) from Russia (champion 1969–1972), won games in both positional and sharp tactical style.[114] The next championship, the so-called [Match of the Century](/source/World_Chess_Championship_1972), saw the first non-Soviet challenger since World War II, American [Bobby Fischer](/source/Bobby_Fischer). Fischer defeated his opponents in the [Candidates](/source/Candidates_Tournament) matches by unheard-of margins, and convincingly defeated Spassky for the world championship. The match was followed closely by news media of the day, leading to a surge in popularity for chess; it also held significant political importance at the height of the [Cold War](/source/Cold_War), with the match being seen by both sides as a [microcosm](/source/Microcosm%E2%80%93macrocosm_analogy) of the conflict between East and West.[115] In 1975, however, Fischer refused to defend his title against Soviet [Anatoly Karpov](/source/Anatoly_Karpov) when he was unable to reach agreement on conditions with FIDE, and Karpov obtained the title by default.[116] Fischer modernized many aspects of chess, especially by extensively preparing openings.[117]

Karpov defended his title twice against [Viktor Korchnoi](/source/Viktor_Korchnoi) and dominated the 1970s and early 1980s with a string of tournament successes.[118] In the [1984 World Chess Championship](/source/1984_World_Chess_Championship), Karpov faced his toughest challenge to date, the young [Garry Kasparov](/source/Garry_Kasparov) from [Baku](/source/Baku), [Soviet Azerbaijan](/source/Soviet_Azerbaijan). The match was aborted in controversial circumstances after 5 months and 48 games with Karpov leading by 5 wins to 3, but evidently exhausted; many commentators believed Kasparov, who had won the last two games, would have won the match had it continued. Kasparov won the [1985 rematch](/source/1985_World_Chess_Championship). Kasparov and Karpov contested three further closely fought matches in 1986, 1987 and 1990, Kasparov winning them all.[119] Kasparov became the dominant figure of world chess from the mid-1980s until his retirement from competition in 2005.

#### Beginnings of chess technology

Chess-playing computer programs (later known as [chess engines](/source/Chess_engines)) began to appear in the 1960s. In 1970, the first major computer chess tournament, the [North American Computer Chess Championship](/source/North_American_Computer_Chess_Championship), was held, followed in 1974 by the first [World Computer Chess Championship](/source/World_Computer_Chess_Championship). In the late 1970s, dedicated home chess computers such as Fidelity Electronics' *[Chess Challenger](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chess_Challenger&action=edit&redlink=1)* became commercially available, as well as software to run on home computers. The overall standard of computer chess was low, however, until the 1990s.

The first [endgame tablebases](/source/Endgame_tablebases), which provided [perfect play](/source/Perfect_play) for relatively simple endgames such as king and rook versus king and bishop, appeared in the late 1970s. This set a precedent to the complete six- and seven-piece tablebases that became available in the 2000s and 2010s respectively.[120]

Some of the earliest [chess databases](/source/Chess_database), which are collections of chess games searchable by move and position, include [Ken Thompson](/source/Ken_Thompson) and [Joe Condon](/source/Joseph_Henry_Condon)'s king-queen versus king-rook chess database. They were used for testing early chess engines like [Belle](/source/Belle_(chess_machine)). It won the [ACM](/source/Association_for_Computing_Machinery) [North American Computer Chess Championship](/source/North_American_Computer_Chess_Championship) five times and the 1980 [World Computer Chess Championship](/source/World_Computer_Chess_Championship).[121] The first commercial chess database was introduced by the German company [ChessBase](/source/ChessBase) in 1987.[122] Databases containing millions of chess games have since had a profound effect on opening theory and other areas of chess research.

Digital [chess clocks](/source/Chess_clocks) were invented in 1973, though they did not become commonplace until the 1990s. Digital clocks allow for time controls involving [increments and delays](/source/Time_control#Increment_and_delay_methods).

### 1990–present: Rise of computers and online chess

#### Technology

The [Internet](/source/Internet) enabled [online chess](/source/Online_chess) as a new medium of playing, with [chess servers](/source/Chess_servers) allowing users to play other people from different parts of the world in real time. The first such server, known as [Internet Chess Server](/source/Internet_Chess_Server) (ICS), was developed at the University of Utah in 1992. ICS formed the basis for the first commercial chess server, the [Internet Chess Club](/source/Internet_Chess_Club), which was launched in 1995, and for other early chess servers such as [Free Internet Chess Server](/source/Free_Internet_Chess_Server) (FICS). Since then, many other platforms have appeared, and online chess began to rival over-the-board chess in popularity. The two most popular platforms today are [chess.com](/source/Chess.com) and [Lichess](/source/Lichess).[123][124] During the 2020 [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic), the isolation ensuing from [quarantines](/source/Quarantine) imposed in many places around the world, combined with the success of the popular [Netflix](/source/Netflix) show *[The Queen's Gambit](/source/The_Queen's_Gambit_(miniseries))* and other factors such as the popularity of online tournaments (notably [PogChamps](/source/PogChamps)) and chess [Twitch](/source/Twitch_(service)) streamers, resulted in a surge of popularity not only for online chess, but for the game of chess in general; this phenomenon has been referred to in the media as the 2020 online chess boom.[125][126]

[Computer chess](/source/Computer_chess) has also seen major advances. By the 1990s, chess engines could consistently defeat most amateurs, and in 1997 [Deep Blue](/source/Deep_Blue_(chess_computer)) defeated World Champion Garry Kasparov in [a six-game match](/source/Deep_Blue_versus_Garry_Kasparov), starting an era of computer dominance at the highest level of chess. In the 2010s, engines significantly stronger than even the best human players became accessible for free on a number of [PC](/source/Personal_computer) and [mobile](/source/Mobile_phone) platforms, and free engine analysis became a commonplace feature on internet chess servers. An adverse effect of the easy availability of engine analysis on hand-held devices and personal computers has been the rise of [computer cheating](/source/Chess_cheating), which has grown to be a major concern in both over-the-board and online chess.[127] In 2017, [AlphaZero](/source/AlphaZero)—a [neural network](/source/Artificial_neural_network) also capable of playing [shogi](/source/Shogi) and [Go](/source/Go_(game))—was introduced. Since then, many chess engines based on neural network evaluation have been written, the best of which have surpassed the traditional "[brute-force](/source/Brute-force_search)" engines. AlphaZero also introduced many novel ideas and ways of playing the game, which affected the style of play at the top level.[128]

As [endgame tablebases](/source/Endgame_tablebases) developed, they began to provide [perfect play](/source/Perfect_play) in endgame positions in which the [game-theoretical](/source/Game_theory) outcome was previously unknown, such as positions with king, queen and pawn against king and queen. In 1991, Lewis Stiller published a tablebase for select six-piece endgames,[129][130] and by 2005, following the publication of [Nalimov](/source/Eugene_Nalimov) tablebases, all six-piece endgame positions were solved. In 2012, Lomonosov tablebases were published which solved all seven-piece endgame positions.[131] Use of tablebases enhances the performance of chess engines by providing definitive results in some branches of analysis.

Previously, preparation at the professional level required an extensive chess library and several subscriptions to publications such as *[Chess Informant](/source/Chess_Informant)* to keep up with opening developments and study opponents' games. Today, preparation at the professional level involves the use of databases containing millions of games, and engines to analyze different opening variations and prepare novelties.[132] A number of online learning resources are also available for players of all levels, such as online courses, tactics trainers, and video lessons.[133]

Since the late 1990s, it has been possible to follow major international chess events online, the players' moves being relayed in real time. Sensory boards have been developed to enable automatic transmission of moves. Chess players will frequently run engines while watching these games, allowing them to quickly identify mistakes by the players and spot tactical opportunities. While in the past the moves have been relayed live, today chess organizers will often impose a half-hour delay as an anti-cheating measure. Technological progress made in the 1990s and the 21st century has influenced the way that chess is studied at all levels, as well as the state of chess as a [spectator sport](/source/Spectator_sport). In the mid-to-late 2010s, and especially following the 2020 online boom, it became commonplace for [supergrandmasters](/source/Super_Grandmaster), such as [Hikaru Nakamura](/source/Hikaru_Nakamura) and [Magnus Carlsen](/source/Magnus_Carlsen), to [livestream](/source/Livestream) chess content on platforms such as [Twitch](/source/Twitch_(service)).[134][135] Also following the boom, online chess started being viewed as an [esport](/source/Esport), with esport teams signing chess players for the first time in 2020.[136] In 2025, the number of esport teams signing chess players rose considerably, after chess was added to [Saudi Arabia](/source/Saudi_Arabia)'s [Esports World Cup](/source/Esports_World_Cup).[137][138]

#### Growth

The number of [grandmasters](/source/Grandmaster_(chess)) and other chess professionals has also grown in the modern era. Kenneth Regan and Guy Haworth conducted research involving comparison of move choices by players of different levels and from different periods with the analysis of strong chess engines. They concluded that the increase in the number of grandmasters and higher Elo ratings of the top players reflect an actual increase in the average standard of play, rather than "rating inflation" or "title inflation".[139]

Organized chess even for young children has become common. FIDE holds world championships for age levels down to 8 years old. The largest tournaments, in number of players, are those held for children.[140]

#### Professional chess

[Magnus Carlsen](/source/Magnus_Carlsen) of Norway, top 1 FIDE ranked player since July 2011

In 1993, Garry Kasparov and [Nigel Short](/source/Nigel_Short) broke ties with FIDE to organize their own match for the World Championship and formed a competing [Professional Chess Association](/source/Professional_Chess_Association) (PCA). From then until 2006, there were two simultaneous World Championships and respective World Champions: the PCA or "classical" champions extending the Steinitzian tradition in which the current champion plays a challenger in a series of games, and the other following FIDE's new format of many players competing in a large knockout tournament to determine the champion. Kasparov lost his PCA title in [2000](/source/Classical_World_Chess_Championship_2000) to [Vladimir Kramnik](/source/Vladimir_Kramnik) of Russia.[141] Due to the complicated state of world chess politics and difficulties obtaining commercial sponsorships, Kasparov was never able to challenge for the title again. Despite this, he continued to dominate in top level tournaments and remained the world's [highest-rated player](/source/List_of_FIDE_chess_world_number_ones) until his retirement from competitive chess in 2005.

[Gukesh Dommaraju](/source/Gukesh_Dommaraju) of India, current World Champion

The [World Chess Championship 2006](/source/World_Chess_Championship_2006), in which Kramnik beat the FIDE World Champion [Veselin Topalov](/source/Veselin_Topalov), reunified the titles and made Kramnik the undisputed World Chess Champion.[142] In September 2007, he lost the title to [Viswanathan Anand](/source/Viswanathan_Anand) of India. Anand defended his title in the [revenge match of 2008](/source/World_Chess_Championship_2008),[143] 2010 and 2012. Magnus Carlsen defeated Anand in [2013](/source/World_Chess_Championship_2013), defending his title in [2014](/source/World_Chess_Championship_2014), [2016](/source/World_Chess_Championship_2016), [2018](/source/World_Chess_Championship_2018), and [2021](/source/World_Chess_Championship_2021), whereafter he announced that he would not defend his title a fifth time. The [2023 championship](/source/World_Chess_Championship_2023) was played between the winner and runner-up of the [Candidates Tournament 2022](/source/Candidates_Tournament_2022): [Ian Nepomniachtchi](/source/Ian_Nepomniachtchi) of Russia and [Ding Liren](/source/Ding_Liren) of China. Ding beat Nepomniachtchi, making him the world champion.[48] In [2024](/source/World_Chess_Championship_2024), [Gukesh Dommaraju](/source/Gukesh_Dommaraju) of India beat Ding. Carlsen has however remained the world's highest-rated player.

## Connections to other fields

### Arts and humanities

Main article: [Chess in the arts](/source/Chess_in_the_arts)

In the [Middle Ages](/source/Middle_Ages) and during the [Renaissance](/source/Renaissance), chess was a part of [noble](/source/Nobility) culture; it was used to teach war strategy and was dubbed the "[King's Game](/source/Chess_or_the_King's_Game)".[144] Gentlemen are "to be meanly seene in the play at Chestes", says the overview at the beginning of [Baldassare Castiglione](/source/Baldassare_Castiglione)'s *[The Book of the Courtier](/source/The_Book_of_the_Courtier)* (1528, English 1561 by Sir Thomas Hoby), but chess should not be a gentleman's main passion. Castiglione explains it further:

Noble chess players, Germany, c. 1320

And what say you to the game at chestes? It is truely an honest kynde of enterteynmente and wittie, quoth Syr Friderick. But me think it hath a fault, whiche is, that a man may be to couning at it, for who ever will be excellent in the playe of chestes, I beleave he must beestowe much tyme about it, and applie it with so much study, that a man may assoone learne some noble scyence, or compase any other matter of importaunce, and yet in the ende in beestowing all that laboure, he knoweth no more but a game. Therfore in this I beleave there happeneth a very rare thing, namely, that the meane is more commendable, then the excellency.[145]

Some of the elaborate chess sets used by the aristocracy at least partially survive, such as the [Lewis chessmen](/source/Lewis_chessmen).

Chess was often used as a basis of sermons on [morality](/source/Morality). An example is *Liber de moribus hominum et officiis nobilium sive super ludo scacchorum* ('Book of the customs of men and the duties of nobles or the Book of Chess'), written by an Italian [Dominican](/source/Order_of_Preachers) friar [Jacobus de Cessolis](/source/Jacobus_de_Cessolis) c. 1300. This book was one of the most popular of the Middle Ages.[146] The work was translated into many other languages (the first printed edition was published at Utrecht in 1473) and was the basis for [William Caxton](/source/William_Caxton)'s *The Game and Playe of the Chesse* (1474), one of the first books printed in English.[147] Different chess pieces were used as metaphors for different classes of people, and human duties were derived from the rules of the game or from visual properties of the chess pieces:[148]

The knyght ought to be made alle armed upon an hors in suche wyse that he haue an helme on his heed and a spere in his ryght hande/ and coueryd wyth his sheld/ a swerde and a mace on his lyft syde/ Cladd wyth an hawberk and plates to fore his breste/ legge harnoys on his legges/ Spores on his heelis on his handes his gauntelettes/ his hors well broken and taught and apte to bataylle and couerid with his armes/ whan the knyghtes ben maad they ben bayned or bathed/ that is the signe that they shold lede a newe lyf and newe maners/ also they wake alle the nyght in prayers and orysons vnto god that he wylle gyue hem grace that they may gete that thynge that they may not gete by nature/ The kynge or prynce gyrdeth a boute them a swerde in signe/ that they shold abyde and kepe hym of whom they take theyr dispenses and dignyte.[149]

Known in the circles of clerics, students, and merchants, chess entered into the popular culture of the Middle Ages. An example is the 209th song of [Carmina Burana](/source/Carmina_Burana) from the 13th century, which starts with the names of chess pieces, *Roch, pedites, regina...*[150] The game of chess, at times, has been discouraged by various religious authorities in Middle Ages: Jewish,[151] Catholic and [Orthodox](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church).[152] Some Muslim authorities prohibited it even recently, for example [Ruhollah Khomeini](/source/Ruhollah_Khomeini) in 1979 and [Abdul-Aziz ash-Sheikh](/source/Abdul-Aziz_ibn_Abdullah_Al_ash-Sheikh) even later.[153]

During the [Age of Enlightenment](/source/Age_of_Enlightenment), chess was viewed as a means of self-improvement. [Benjamin Franklin](/source/Benjamin_Franklin), in his article "[The Morals of Chess](/source/The_Morals_of_Chess)" (1786), wrote:

The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions; for life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with, and in which there is a vast variety of good and ill events, that are, in some degree, the effect of prudence, or the want of it. By playing at Chess then, we may learn:

**I. Foresight**, which looks a little into futurity, and considers the consequences that may attend an action ...

**II. Circumspection**, which surveys the whole Chess-board, or scene of action: – the relation of the several Pieces, and their situations ...

**III. Caution**, not to make our moves too hastily ...[154]

Chess was occasionally criticized in the 19th century as a waste of time.[155][156]

*[Through the Looking-Glass](/source/Through_the_Looking-Glass)*: the Red King is snoring. Illustration by Sir [John Tenniel](/source/John_Tenniel).

Chess is taught to children in schools around the world today. Many schools host chess clubs, and there are many scholastic tournaments specifically for children. Tournaments are held regularly in many countries, hosted by organizations such as the [United States Chess Federation](/source/United_States_Chess_Federation) and the National Scholastic Chess Foundation.[157]

Chess is many times depicted in [the arts](/source/Chess_in_the_arts_and_literature); significant works where chess plays a key role range from Thomas Middleton's *[A Game at Chess](/source/A_Game_at_Chess)* to *[Through the Looking-Glass](/source/Through_the_Looking-Glass)* by Lewis Carroll, to Vladimir Nabokov's *[The Defense](/source/The_Defense)*, to *[The Royal Game](/source/The_Royal_Game)* by Stefan Zweig. Chess has also featured in film classics such as [Ingmar Bergman](/source/Ingmar_Bergman)'s *[The Seventh Seal](/source/The_Seventh_Seal)*, [Satyajit Ray](/source/Satyajit_Ray)'s *[The Chess Players](/source/Shatranj_Ke_Khilari)*, and [Powell and Pressburger](/source/Powell_and_Pressburger)'s *[A Matter of Life and Death](/source/A_Matter_of_Life_and_Death_(1946_film))*.

Chess is also present in contemporary popular culture. For example, the characters in *[Star Trek](/source/Star_Trek)* play a futuristic version of the game called "[Federation](/source/Federation_(Star_Trek)) [Tri-Dimensional Chess](/source/Tri-Dimensional_Chess)",[158] and "[Wizard's Chess](/source/Wizard's_Chess)" is played in J.K. Rowling's *[Harry Potter](/source/Harry_Potter)*.[159]

### Mathematics

See also: [Mathematical chess problem](/source/Mathematical_chess_problem) and [Solving chess](/source/Solving_chess)

The game structure and nature of chess are related to several branches of mathematics. Many [combinatorical](/source/Combinatorics) and [topological](/source/Topology) problems connected to chess, such as the [knight's tour](/source/Knight's_tour) and the [eight queens puzzle](/source/Eight_queens_puzzle), have been known for hundreds of years.

Mathematicians [Euler](/source/Euler), [Legendre](/source/Adrien-Marie_Legendre), [de Moivre](/source/De_Moivre), and [Vandermonde](/source/Vandermonde) studied the [knight's tour](/source/Knight's_tour).

The number of legal positions in chess is estimated to be (4.59 ± 0.38) × 1044 with a 95% confidence level,[160] with a [game-tree complexity](/source/Game-tree_complexity) of approximately 10123. The game-tree complexity of chess was first calculated by [Claude Shannon](/source/Claude_Shannon) as 10120, a number known as the [Shannon number](/source/Shannon_number).[161] An average position typically has thirty to forty possible moves, but there may be as few as zero (in the case of checkmate or stalemate) or (in a constructed position) as many as 218.[162]

In 1913, [Ernst Zermelo](/source/Ernst_Zermelo) used chess as a basis for his theory of game strategies, which is considered one of the predecessors of [game theory](/source/Game_theory).[163] [Zermelo's theorem](/source/Zermelo's_theorem_(game_theory)) states that it is possible to [solve chess](/source/Solving_chess), i.e. to determine with certainty the outcome of a perfectly played game (either White can force a win, or Black can force a win, or both sides can force at least a draw).[164] With 1043 legal positions in chess, however, it will take an impossibly long time to compute a perfect strategy with any feasible technology.[165]

#### Applied mathematics

A novel methodology in [steganography](/source/Steganography) explores the use of chess-based covers (such as puzzles, chess problems, game reports, training documents, news articles, etc.) for concealing data within a selection of [moves](/source/Glossary_of_chess#moves), each hiding some [bits](/source/Bit).[166][167] Several proof-of-concept projects have been developed that convert text or files into [binary code](/source/Binary_code), which is then converted into a series of legal chess moves, that can then be [decrypted](/source/Decryption) and downloaded.[168]

[Correspondence chess](/source/Correspondence_chess) has been historically suspected of being a potential steganographic medium. [Melville Davisson Post](/source/Melville_Davisson_Post) documented a [chess problem](/source/Chess_problem) that was used to create a pictorial [cipher](/source/Cipher) during [World War I](/source/World_War_I).[169][170] During [World War II](/source/World_War_II), extensive [postal censorship](/source/Postal_censorship) was imposed on [military personnel](/source/Military_personnel) from the United States and Canada that made playing correspondence chess impossible, arising from suspicion that chess could be used to send secret messages to the enemies.[171]

### Psychology

There is an extensive scientific literature on chess psychology.[note 6][173][174][175][176] [Alfred Binet](/source/Alfred_Binet) and others showed that [knowledge](/source/Knowledge) and verbal, rather than visuospatial, ability lies at the core of expertise.[177][178] In his doctoral thesis, [Adriaan de Groot](/source/Adriaan_de_Groot) showed that chess masters can rapidly perceive the key features of a position.[179] According to de Groot, this [perception](/source/Perception), made possible by years of practice and study, is more important than the sheer ability to anticipate moves. De Groot showed that chess masters can memorize positions shown for a few seconds almost perfectly. The ability to memorize does not alone account for chess-playing skill, since masters and novices, when faced with random arrangements of chess pieces, had equivalent recall (about six positions in each case). Rather, it is the ability to recognize patterns, which are then memorized, which distinguished the skilled players from the novices. When the positions of the pieces were taken from an actual game, the masters had almost total positional recall.[180]

More recent research has focused on [chess as mental training](/source/Chess_as_mental_training); the respective roles of knowledge and look-ahead search; [brain imaging](/source/Brain_imaging) studies of chess masters and novices; [blindfold chess](/source/Blindfold_chess); the role of [personality](/source/Personality_psychology) and [intelligence](/source/Intelligence) in chess skill; gender differences; and computational models of chess expertise. The role of practice and talent in the development of chess and other domains of expertise has led to much empirical investigation. Ericsson and colleagues have argued that deliberate practice is sufficient for reaching high levels of expertise in chess.[181] Recent research, however, fails to replicate their results and indicates that factors other than practice are also important.[182][183] For example, [Fernand Gobet](/source/Fernand_Gobet) and colleagues have shown that stronger players started playing chess at a young age and that experts born in the Northern Hemisphere are more likely to have been born in late winter and early spring. Compared to the general population, chess players are more likely to be non-right-handed, though they found no correlation between handedness and skill.[183]

A relationship between chess skill and intelligence has long been discussed in scientific literature as well as in popular culture. Academic studies that investigate the relationship date back at least to 1927.[184] Although one meta-analysis and most children studies find a positive correlation between general cognitive ability and chess skill, adult studies show mixed results.[185][186]

## Online chess

Main article: [Online chess](/source/Online_chess)

Online chess is chess played over the internet. This is done through the use of [internet chess platforms](/source/List_of_Internet_chess_platforms), which use [Elo ratings](/source/Elo_rating_system) or similar systems to pair up individual players. Online chess saw a spike in growth during the [quarantines](/source/Quarantine) of the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic).[187][188] This can be attributed to both isolation and the popularity of [Netflix](/source/Netflix) miniseries *[The Queen's Gambit](/source/The_Queen's_Gambit_(miniseries))*, which was released in October 2020.[187][188] Chess app downloads on the [App Store](/source/App_Store_(iOS%2FiPadOS)) and [Google Play Store](/source/Google_Play_Store) rose by 63% after the show debuted.[189] [Chess.com](/source/Chess.com) saw more than twice as many account registrations in November as it had in previous months, and the number of games played monthly on [Lichess](/source/Lichess) doubled as well. There was also a demographic shift in players, with female registration on Chess.com shifting from 22% to 27% of new players.[190] [GM](/source/Grandmaster_(chess)) [Maurice Ashley](/source/Maurice_Ashley) said "A boom is taking place in chess like we have never seen maybe since the Bobby Fischer days", attributing the growth to an increased desire to do something constructive during the pandemic.[191] [USCF](/source/United_States_Chess_Federation) Women's Program Director [Jennifer Shahade](/source/Jennifer_Shahade) stated that chess works well on the internet, since pieces do not need to be reset and [matchmaking](/source/Matchmaking_(video_games)) is virtually instant.[192]

## Computer chess

Main article: [Computer chess](/source/Computer_chess)

See also: [Human–computer chess matches](/source/Human%E2%80%93computer_chess_matches), [Deep Blue versus Garry Kasparov](/source/Deep_Blue_versus_Garry_Kasparov), and [Chess engine](/source/Chess_engine)

The idea of creating a chess-playing machine dates to the 18th century; around 1769, the chess-playing [automaton](/source/Automaton) called [The Turk](/source/Mechanical_Turk) became famous before being exposed as a [hoax](/source/Hoax).[193] Serious trials based on automata, such as [El Ajedrecista](/source/El_Ajedrecista), were too complex and limited to be useful. Since the advent of the [digital computer](/source/Digital_computer) in the 1950s, chess enthusiasts, [computer engineers](/source/Computer_engineer), and computer scientists have built, with increasing degrees of seriousness and success, chess-playing machines and computer programs.[194] The groundbreaking paper on computer chess, "Programming a Computer for Playing Chess", was published in 1950 by [Claude Shannon](/source/Claude_Shannon).[note 7] He wrote:

The chess machine is an ideal one to start with, since: (1) the problem is sharply defined both in allowed operations (the moves) and in the ultimate goal (checkmate); (2) it is neither so simple as to be trivial nor too difficult for satisfactory solution; (3) chess is generally considered to require "thinking" for skillful play; a solution of this problem will force us either to admit the possibility of a mechanized thinking or to further restrict our concept of "thinking"; (4) the discrete structure of chess fits well into the digital nature of

modern computers.[196]

1990s chess-playing computer

The [Association for Computing Machinery](/source/Association_for_Computing_Machinery) (ACM) held the first major chess tournament for computers, the [North American Computer Chess Championship](/source/North_American_Computer_Chess_Championship), in September 1970. [CHESS 3.0](/source/Chess_(Northwestern_University)), a chess program from [Northwestern University](/source/Northwestern_University), won the championship. The first [World Computer Chess Championship](/source/World_Computer_Chess_Championship), held in 1974, was won by the Soviet program [Kaissa](/source/Kaissa). At first considered only a curiosity, the best [chess playing programs](/source/Chess_engine) have become extremely strong. In 1997, a computer won a chess match using classical time controls against a reigning World Champion for the first time: [IBM's](/source/IBM) [Deep Blue](/source/IBM_Deep_Blue) beat [Garry Kasparov](/source/Garry_Kasparov) 3½–2½ (it scored two wins, one loss, and three [draws](/source/Draw_(chess))).[197][198] There was some controversy over [the match](/source/Deep_Blue_versus_Garry_Kasparov),[199] and [human–computer matches](/source/Human%E2%80%93computer_chess_matches) were relatively close over the next few years, until convincing computer victories in [2005](/source/Human%E2%80%93computer_chess_matches#Hydra–Adams_(2005)) and in [2006](/source/Human%E2%80%93computer_chess_matches#Kramnik–Deep_Fritz_(2006)).

In 2009, a [mobile phone](/source/Mobile_phone) won a [category](/source/Category_(chess_tournament)) 6 tournament with a performance rating of 2898: chess engine [Hiarcs](/source/Hiarcs) 13 running on the mobile phone [HTC Touch HD](/source/HTC_Touch_HD) won the Copa Mercosur tournament with nine wins and one draw.[200] The best chess programs are now able to consistently beat the strongest human players, to the extent that human–computer matches no longer attract interest from chess players or the media.[201] While the [World Computer Chess Championship](/source/World_Computer_Chess_Championship) still exists, the [Top Chess Engine Championship](/source/Top_Chess_Engine_Championship) (TCEC) is widely regarded as the unofficial world championship for chess [engines](/source/Chess_engine).[202][203][204] The current champion is [Stockfish](/source/Stockfish_(chess)).

With huge databases of past games and high analytical ability, computers can help players to learn chess and prepare for matches. [Internet Chess Servers](/source/Internet_Chess_Server) allow people to find and play opponents worldwide. The presence of computers and modern communication tools have raised concerns regarding [cheating during games](/source/Cheating_in_chess).[205]

## Related games

[Sittuyin](/source/Sittuyin), after setup phase. Players elect their own starting setups behind the pawns.

Related games include:

- direct predecessors of chess, such as [chaturanga](/source/Chaturanga) and [shatranj](/source/Shatranj);

- traditional national or regional games that share common ancestors with Western chess such as [xiangqi](/source/Xiangqi) (Chinese chess), [shogi](/source/Shogi) (Japanese chess), [janggi](/source/Janggi) (Korean chess), [ouk chatrang](/source/Makruk) (Cambodian chess), [makruk](/source/Makruk) (Thai chess), [sittuyin](/source/Sittuyin) (Burmese chess), and [shatar](/source/Shatar) (Mongolian chess);

In the comparison of chess with games often referred to as national forms of chess, chess may be referred to as *Western chess* or *international chess*.[206][207]

### Chess variants

Main articles: [Chess variant](/source/Chess_variant) and [List of chess variants](/source/List_of_chess_variants)

[Capablanca](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Ra%C3%BAl_Capablanca) demonstrating Capablanca chess on a 10×10 board as reported in a 1929 April issue of *[The Times](/source/The_Times)*

There are more than two thousand published chess variants, games with similar but different rules,[208] most of which are of relatively recent origin.[209]

They include modern variations employing different rules (e.g. [losing chess](/source/Losing_chess) and [Chess960](/source/Chess960)[note 8]), different armies (e.g. [Dunsany's chess](/source/Dunsany's_chess)), [non-standard pieces](/source/Fairy_piece) (e.g. [Capablanca chess](/source/Knighted_chess) and [Falcon–hunter chess](/source/Falcon%E2%80%93hunter_chess)), and different board geometries (e.g. [hexagonal chess](/source/Hexagonal_chess) and [infinite chess](/source/Infinite_chess)). In the context of chess variants, chess is commonly referred to as *orthodox chess*, *orthochess*, and *classic chess*.[206][207]

## See also

- [Glossary of chess](/source/Glossary_of_chess)

- [Glossary of chess problems](/source/Glossary_of_chess_problems)

- [List of abstract strategy games](/source/List_of_abstract_strategy_games)

- [List of chess players](/source/List_of_chess_players)

- [List of World Chess Championships](/source/List_of_World_Chess_Championships)

- [Outline of chess](/source/Outline_of_chess)

- [Women in chess](/source/Women_in_chess)

## Footnotes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** The fifty-move rule is not applied at FICGS.[13]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FIDE_top_players_55-0)** Current FIDE lists of top players with their titles are online at ["FIDE Ratings and Statistics"](https://ratings.fide.com/). *ratings.fide.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230710101639/http://ratings.fide.com/) from the original on 10 July 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-73)** At that time the Spanish word would have been written *axedrez*. The Spanish "x" was pronounced as English "sh", as the Portuguese "x" still is today. The spelling of *ajedrez* changed after [Spanish lost the "sh" sound](/source/Spanish_orthography#History).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-88)** The allegorical poem [Scachs d'amor](/source/Scachs_d'amor), the first to describe a modern game, is probably from 1475.[83][84]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-113)** This is stated in *The Encyclopaedia of Chess* (1970, p. 223) by [Anne Sunnucks](/source/Anne_Sunnucks), but is disputed by [Edward Winter (chess historian)](/source/Edward_Winter_(chess_historian)) in his [Chess Notes 5144 and 5152](http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/winter38.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-178)** Chess is even called the "[drosophila](/source/Drosophila)" of [cognitive psychology](/source/Cognitive_psychology) and [artificial intelligence](/source/Artificial_intelligence) (AI) studies, because it represents the domain in which expert performance has been most intensively studied and measured.[172]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-202)** [Alan Turing](/source/Alan_Turing) made an attempt in 1953.[195]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-218)** In 2008 FIDE added Chess960 rules to an appendix of the Handbook.[210] This section is now classified under "Guidelines",[2] indicating that the rules presented do not have the weight of FIDE law.

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** *A World of Chess*, Jean-Louis Cazaux and Rick Knowlton, p. 244

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess_2-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess_2-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess_2-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess_2-11) [***m***](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess_2-12) ["Fide Laws of Chess taking effect from 1 January 2023"](https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023). FIDE. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230101083033/https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023) from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-fideequip_3-0)** ["C. General Rules and Technical Recommendations for Tournaments / 02. Chess Equipment / 01. Standards of Chess Equipment / FIDE Handbook"](https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/StandardsOfChessEquipment2022). *International Chess Federation (FIDE)*. Retrieved 19 January 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Hooper & Whyld (1992)](#CITEREFHooperWhyld1992), p. 47

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Koch, Jason (7 October 2024). ["Seven questions with Edwardsville's chess icon"](https://www.theintelligencer.com/news/article/seven-questions-edwardsville-chess-master-19813289.php). *[Edwardsville Intelligencer](/source/Edwardsville_Intelligencer)*. Retrieved 2 February 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["U.S. - China Chess Summit, US- China First Round: 5.5 - 4.5"](https://web.archive.org/web/20010409075308/http://www.seattlechessfoundation.org/uschinasummit/uschinareport1.html). *Seattle Chess Foundation*. 2001. Archived from [the original](http://www.seattlechessfoundation.org/uschinasummit/uschinareport1.html) on 9 April 2001. Retrieved 2 February 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** United States Chess Federation. (2003). *U.S. Chess Federation's official rules of chess*. Just, Tim., Burg, Daniel B. (5th ed.). New York: Random House Puzzles and Games. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8129-3559-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8129-3559-4). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [52859422](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/52859422).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["E. MISCELLANEOUS / 01. Laws of Chess / FIDE Laws of Chess taking effect from 1 January 2023 / FIDE Handbook"](https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/e012023). *International Chess Federation (FIDE)*. Retrieved 20 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Just, Tim; Burg, Daniel B. (2003). *U.S. Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess* (5th ed.). McKay. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8129-3559-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8129-3559-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Burgess (2000)](#CITEREFBurgess2000), p. 481

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [David Brine Pritchard](/source/David_Pritchard_(chess_player)) (6 November 2008) [1950]. *The Right Way to Play Chess*. Updated by Richard James (2008 revised ed.). Right Way. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7160-2199-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7160-2199-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Jack Peters (18 May 2001). ["Why Grandmasters Rarely Checkmate"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-may-18-cl-64946-story.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201229221956/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-may-18-cl-64946-story.html) from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["50 moves rules"](http://www.ficgs.com/membership.html#chess). FICGS. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100209034210/http://www.ficgs.com/membership.html#chess) from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** See paragraph "C. Algebraic notation" in FIDE Laws of Chess[2]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [Hooper & Whyld (1992)](#CITEREFHooperWhyld1992), p. 92

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [Murray (1985)](#CITEREFMurray1985), p. 25

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-harvp|Hooper|Whyld|1992|p=229_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-harvp|Hooper|Whyld|1992|p=229_18-1) [Hooper & Whyld (1992)](#CITEREFHooperWhyld1992), p. 229

1. **[^](#cite_ref-PolgarRecords_19-0)** [Susan Polgar](/source/Susan_Polgar) (11 February 2008). ["Special Chess Records"](https://chessdailynews.com/special-chess-records/). *Chess Daily News*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221229064443/https://chessdailynews.com/special-chess-records/) from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Chess and draughts collection – Koninklijke Bibliotheek"](http://www.kb.nl/en/resources-research-guides/kb-collections/collections-by-theme/chess-and-draughts-collection). *kb.nl*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150602095256/http://www.kb.nl/en/resources-research-guides/kb-collections/collections-by-theme/chess-and-draughts-collection) from the original on 2 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Siegbert Tarrasch vs. Max Euwe, Bad Pistyan it, CZE 1922"](http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1006866). *[Chessgames.com](/source/Chessgames.com)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090110122502/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1006866) from the original on 10 January 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** [Harding (2003)](#CITEREFHarding2003), pp. 1–7

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** [Lasker (1934)](#CITEREFLasker1934), p. 73

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** [Watson (1998)](#CITEREFWatson1998), pp. 163ff

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** [Harding (2003)](#CITEREFHarding2003), pp. 138ff

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** [Evans (1958)](#CITEREFEvans1958), pp. 22–67

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** [Harding (2003)](#CITEREFHarding2003), pp. 8ff

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-134)** L. B. Stiller (1991). "Some Results from a Massively Parallel Retrograde Analysis". *ICCA Journal*. **14** (3): 129–134. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3233/ICG-1991-14304](https://doi.org/10.3233%2FICG-1991-14304).

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-201)** Alan Turing. ["Digital computers applied to games"](http://www.turingarchive.org/browse.php/B/7). University of Southampton and King's College Cambridge. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080509054855/http://www.turingarchive.org/browse.php/B/7) from the original on 9 May 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-203)** Shannon, Claude E. XXII. Programming a Computer for Playing Chess. *Philosophical Magazine*, Ser. 7, Vol. 41, No. 314 – March 1950. Available online at ["computerhistory.org"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100706211229/http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/2-0%20and%202-1.Programming_a_computer_for_playing_chess.shannon/2-0%20and%202-1.Programming_a_computer_for_playing_chess.shannon.062303002.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/2-0%20and%202-1.Programming_a_computer_for_playing_chess.shannon/2-0%20and%202-1.Programming_a_computer_for_playing_chess.shannon.062303002.pdf) (PDF) on 6 July 2010. (175 KB) Retrieved 6 December 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-204)** [Hsu (2002)](#CITEREFHsu2002), pp. 295–296

1. **[^](#cite_ref-205)** [Deep Blue – Kasparov Match](http://researchweb.watson.ibm.com/deepblue/watch/html/c.shtml) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100302133413/http://researchweb.watson.ibm.com/deepblue/watch/html/c.shtml) 2 March 2010 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). *research.ibm.com*. Retrieved 30 November 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-206)** Finley, Klint (28 September 2012). ["Did a Computer Bug Help Deep Blue Beat Kasparov?"](https://www.wired.com/2012/09/deep-blue-computer-bug/). *Wired*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180515043725/https://www.wired.com/2012/09/deep-blue-computer-bug/) from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-207)** Crowther, Mark. ["Hiarcs 13 wins Copa Mercosur"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110930232108/https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic771.html#13). *[The Week in Chess](/source/The_Week_in_Chess)*. Archived from [the original](https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic771.html#13) on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-208)** Siegel, Robert (24 October 2016). ["20 Years Later, Humans Still No Match For Computers On The Chessboard"](https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/10/24/499162905/20-years-later-humans-still-no-match-for-computers-on-the-chessboard). *NPR.org*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201126080706/https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/10/24/499162905/20-years-later-humans-still-no-match-for-computers-on-the-chessboard) from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-209)** Kosteniuk, Alexandra (15 August 2013). ["TCEC Computer Chess Championship New Season starts August 26th"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131025063745/http://www.chessblog.com/2013/08/tcec-computer-chess-championship-new.html). *Chess News Blog*. Archived from [the original](http://www.chessblog.com/2013/08/tcec-computer-chess-championship-new.html) on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-210)** Soltis, Andy (9 June 2013). ["Engine Super Bowl"](https://nypost.com/2013/06/09/engine-super-bowl/). *New York Post*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160503041111/http://nypost.com/2013/06/09/engine-super-bowl/) from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-211)** Roeder, Oliver (25 January 2022). ["We Taught Computers To Play Chess — And Then They Left Us Behind"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220216055753/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/we-taught-computers-to-play-chess-and-then-they-left-us-behind/). *[Fivethirtyeight](/source/Fivethirtyeight)*. Archived from [the original](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/we-taught-computers-to-play-chess-and-then-they-left-us-behind/) on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-212)** McClain, Dylan Loeb (8 August 2006). ["Cheating Accusations in Mental Sports, Too"](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/08/sports/othersports/08chess.html). *The New York Times*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20111205235525/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/08/sports/othersports/08chess.html) from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Parlett_p276_213-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Parlett_p276_213-1) "Western culture regards Chess as a particular game with a particular set of rules governed by an international authority (FIDE – the Fédération Internationale des Echecs). Variously known as International Chess, World Chess, Orthochess, and so on [...]" [Parlett (1999)](#CITEREFParlett1999), p. 276

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Schmittberger_p186_214-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Schmittberger_p186_214-1) Schmittberger, R. Wayne (1992). [*New Rules for Classic Games*](https://archive.org/details/newrulesforclass00rway/page/186). John Wiley & Sons Inc. p. [186](https://archive.org/details/newrulesforclass00rway/page/186). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-471-53621-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-471-53621-5). The form of chess most people know – which is sometimes referred to as Western chess, orthodox chess, or orthochess – is itself just one of many that have been played throughout history.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-215)** [Pritchard (2000)](#CITEREFPritchard2000), p. 8

1. **[^](#cite_ref-216)** Pritchard details 1,450 of them in [Pritchard, D.B.](/source/David_Pritchard_(chess_player)) (1994). *The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants*. Games & Puzzles Publications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-9524142-0-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9524142-0-9). "Of these, about half date from between 700 and 1970 (1,200 years!), half from the last quarter of the twentieth century." [Parlett (1999)](#CITEREFParlett1999), p. 312

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FideLawsOfChess2009_217-0)** From ["Laws Historic"](http://aekphotography.co.uk/CAA/html/laws_historic.html). *Chess Arbiters' Association*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200706060640/http://aekphotography.co.uk/CAA/html/laws_historic.html) from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2022.: ["FIDE Laws of Chess - coming into force on 1 July 2009"](http://aekphotography.co.uk/CAA/Laws_of_Chess_2009.pdf) (PDF). *Chess Arbiters' Association*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201021164037/http://aekphotography.co.uk/CAA/Laws_of_Chess_2009.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.

## References

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- Binet, A. (1894). *Psychologie des grands calculateurs et joueurs d'échecs* (in French). Paris: Hachette. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [287413777](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/287413777).

- Brunning, Sue; Yu-Ping, Luk; O'Connell, Elisabeth R.; Williams, Tim (2024). *Silk Roads*. The British Museum. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7141-2498-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7141-2498-8).

- Burgess, Graham (2000). *The Mammoth Book of Chess*. New York: Carroll & Graf. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7867-0725-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7867-0725-6).

- [Burgess, Graham](/source/Graham_Burgess); [Nunn, John](/source/John_Nunn); [Emms, John](/source/John_Emms_(chess_player)) (2004). [*The Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games*](https://archive.org/details/mammothbookofwor0000burg) (2nd ed.). New York: Carroll & Graf. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7867-1411-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7867-1411-7).

- Davidson, Henry A. (1949). *A Short History of Chess*. New York: D. McKay Co. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-679-14550-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-679-14550-9). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [17340178](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/17340178). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

- de Groot, Adriaan D. (1965) [1946 (first Dutch ed.)]. *Thought and Choice in Chess* (English ed.). The Hague: [Mouton](/source/Mouton_de_Gruyter). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [4988227](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/4988227).

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- [Emms, John](/source/John_Emms_(chess_player)) (2004). *Starting Out: Minor Piece Endgames*. London: Everyman Chess. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1857443592](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1857443592).

- [Evans, Larry](/source/Larry_Evans_(chess_grandmaster)) (1958). *New Ideas in Chess*. New York: Pitman (1984 [Dover](/source/Dover_Publications) edition). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-486-28305-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-486-28305-0). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

- Fine, Gary Alan (2015). *Players and Pawns*. United Kingdom: University of Chicago Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780226265032](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780226265032).

- [Franklin, Benjamin](/source/Benjamin_Franklin) (2003) [1779]. [*A Benjamin Franklin Reader*](https://archive.org/details/benjaminfranklin00fran_1). New York: [Simon & Schuster](/source/Simon_%26_Schuster). p. [\[1\]](https://archive.org/details/benjaminfranklin00fran_1/page/289). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7432-5782-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7432-5782-4). Retrieved 12 December 2010.

- Gobet, Fernand; de Voogt, Alex; Retschitzki, Jean (2004). *Moves in Mind: The Psychology of Board Games*. Hove, UK: Psychology Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84169-336-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84169-336-1). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [53962630](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/53962630).

- Grabner, RH; Stern, E; Neubauer, AC (March 2007). ["Individual differences in chess expertise: A psychometric investigation"](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.actpsy.2006.07.008). *Acta Psychologica*. **124** (3): 398–420. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.actpsy.2006.07.008](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.actpsy.2006.07.008). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [16942740](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16942740).

- Harding, Tim (2003). *Better Chess for Average Players*. New York: Courier Dover Publications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-486-29029-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-486-29029-4). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [33166445](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/33166445).

- Hartston, William R. (1985). [*The Kings of Chess*](https://archive.org/details/kingsofchesshi00hart). New York: Pavilion Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-06-015358-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-06-015358-8).

- Holding, Dennis (1985). *The Psychology of Chess Skill*. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-89859-575-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-89859-575-8). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [11866227](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/11866227).

- [Hooper, David](/source/David_Vincent_Hooper); [Whyld, Kenneth](/source/Kenneth_Whyld) (1992). [*The Oxford Companion to Chess, Second edition*](/source/The_Oxford_Companion_to_Chess). Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-866164-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-866164-1). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [25508610](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/25508610).

- [Howard, Kenneth S](/source/Kenneth_Howard) (1961). *How to Solve Chess Problems*. New York: Courier Dover Publications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-486-20748-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-486-20748-3). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

- Hsu, Feng-Hsiung (2002). *Behind Deep Blue: Building the Computer that Defeated the World Chess Champion*. Princeton: [Princeton University Press](/source/Princeton_University_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-691-09065-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-691-09065-8). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [50582855](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/50582855).

- [Kasparov, Garry](/source/Garry_Kasparov) (2003a). [*My Great Predecessors, part I*](/source/My_Great_Predecessors). London; Guilford, CT: [Everyman Chess](/source/Everyman_Chess). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-85744-330-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-85744-330-1). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [223602528](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/223602528).

- Kasparov, Garry (2003b). *My Great Predecessors, part II*. London; Guilford, CT: Everyman Chess. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-85744-342-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-85744-342-4). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [223906486](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/223906486).

- Kasparov, Garry (2004a). *My Great Predecessors, part III*. London; Guilford, CT: Everyman Chess. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-85744-371-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-85744-371-4). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [52949851](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/52949851).

- Kasparov, Garry (2004b). *My Great Predecessors, part IV*. London; Guilford, CT: Everyman Chess. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-85744-395-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-85744-395-0). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [52949851](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/52949851).

- Kasparov, Garry (2006). *My Great Predecessors, part V*. London; Guilford, CT: Everyman Chess. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-85744-404-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-85744-404-9). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [52949851](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/52949851).

- Keene, Raymond (1993). *Gary Kasparov's Best Games*. London: B.T. Batsford. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7134-7296-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7134-7296-7). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [29386838](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/29386838).

- Landsberger, Kurt (1992). *William Steinitz, Chess Champion: A Biography of the Bohemian Caesar*. [McFarland & Company](/source/McFarland_%26_Company). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-89950-758-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-89950-758-1).

- [Lasker, Emanuel](/source/Emanuel_Lasker) (1934). *Lasker's Chess Primer*. London: Billings (1988 reprint). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7134-6241-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7134-6241-8). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

- Levitt, Gerald M. (2000). *The Turk, Chess Automaton*. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7864-0778-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7864-0778-1). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [226148928](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/226148928).

- [Li, David H.](/source/David_H._Li) (1998). *The Genealogy of Chess*. Bethesda, MD: Premier. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-9637852-2-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9637852-2-0). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [39281682](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/39281682).

- Mark, Michael (2007). *Ancient Board Games in Perspective: The Beginnings of Chess*. United Kingdom: British Museum Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780714111537](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780714111537).

- Metzner, Paul (1998). [*Crescendo of the Virtuoso: Spectacle, Skill, and Self-Promotion in Paris during the Age of Revolution*](http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft438nb2b6&brand=ucpress). Berkeley: University of California Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-520-20684-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-520-20684-7). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [185289629](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/185289629). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100706122359/http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft438nb2b6&brand=ucpress) from the original on 6 July 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.

- [Murray, H.J.R.](/source/H._J._R._Murray) (1985) [First pub. 1913 by [Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press)]. [*A History of Chess*](https://archive.org/details/AHistoryOfChessHJRMurray/page/n33/mode/2up). Northampton, Mass.: Benjamin Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-936317-01-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-936317-01-4). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [13472872](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/13472872).

- Nimzowitsch, Aron (1925). *My System: 21st Century Edition*. Lou Hays. Dallas, Tex.: Hays Pub. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-880673-85-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-880673-85-1). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [25278950](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/25278950). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

- Olmert, Michael (1996). [*Milton's Teeth and Ovid's Umbrella: Curiouser & Curiouser Adventures in History*](https://archive.org/details/miltonsteethovid00olme). New York: Simon & Schuster. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-684-80164-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-684-80164-3).

- [Parlett, David](/source/David_Parlett) (1999). [*The Oxford History of Board Games*](https://archive.org/details/oxfordhistoryofb0000parl). [Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press) Inc. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-212998-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-212998-7).

- Pritchard, David (2000). *Popular Chess Variants*. London: Batsford Chess Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7134-8578-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7134-8578-3). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [44275285](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/44275285).

- Robbins, T.W.; Anderson, E.J.; Barker, D.R.; Bradley, A.C.; Fearnyhough, C.; Henson, R.; Hudson, S.R.; Baddeley, A.D. (1996). ["Working Memory in Chess"](https://doi.org/10.3758%2FBF03197274). *Memory & Cognition*. **24** (1): 83–93. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3758/BF03197274](https://doi.org/10.3758%2FBF03197274). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [8822160](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8822160). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [14009447](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:14009447).

- Saariluoma, Pertti (1995). *Chess Players' Thinking: A Cognitive Psychological Approach*. New York: Routledge. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-415-12079-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-415-12079-1).

- [Silman, Jeremy](/source/Jeremy_Silman) (1998). *The Complete Book of Chess Strategy*. Los Angeles: Silman-James Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-890085-01-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-890085-01-8).

- Shibut, Macon (2004). *Paul Morphy and the Evolution of Chess Theory*. New York: Courier Dover Publications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-486-43574-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-486-43574-9). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [55639730](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/55639730).

- Tamburro, Pete (September 2010). "Challenging the Ruy Lopez". *[Chess Life](/source/Chess_Life)*: 18–21.

- [Tarrasch, Siegbert](/source/Siegbert_Tarrasch) (1987). *The Game of Chess*. New York: Courier Dover Publications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-486-25447-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-486-25447-0). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [15631832](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/15631832).

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- [Watson, John](/source/John_L._Watson) (1998). *Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy*. London: [Gambit Publications](/source/Gambit_Publications). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-901983-07-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-901983-07-4).

- Weenink, H.G.M. (1926). Hume, G.; White, A.C. (eds.). *The Chess Problem*. Stroud: Office of The Chess Amateur. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [3617028](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/3617028).

- Weissberger, Barbara F. (2004). *Isabel Rules: Qonstructing Queenship, Wielding Power*. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8166-4164-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8166-4164-2). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [217447754](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/217447754).

- Yalom, Marilyn (2004). *Birth of the Chess Queen*. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-06-009064-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-06-009064-7).

## Further reading

- [Bird, Henry](/source/Henry_Bird_(chess_player)) (2008) [First published 1893]. *Chess History and Reminiscences*. Forgotten Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-60620-897-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-60620-897-7).

- Dunnington, Angus (2003). *Chess Psychology: Approaching the Psychological Battle Both on and Off the Board*. [Everyman Chess](/source/Everyman_Chess). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-85744-326-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-85744-326-4).

- [Fine, Reuben](/source/Reuben_Fine) (1983). *The World's Great Chess Games*. Courier Dover Publications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-486-24512-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-486-24512-6). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [9394460](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/9394460).

- Hale, Benjamin (2008). *Philosophy Looks at Chess*. [Open Court Publishing Company](/source/Open_Court_Publishing_Company). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8126-9633-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8126-9633-2).

- Ilko, Krisztina (2024). "Chess and Race in the Global Middle Ages". *Speculum*. **99** (2): 480–540. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1086/729294](https://doi.org/10.1086%2F729294).

- [Kotov, Alexander](/source/Alexander_Kotov) (1971). *Think Like a Grandmaster*. B.T. Batsford Ltd. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7134-3160-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7134-3160-5).

- [Lasker, Emanuel](/source/Emanuel_Lasker) (1960). *Lasker's Manual of Chess*. Dover. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-486-20640-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-486-20640-0). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

- Leibs, Andrew (2004). *Sports and Games of the Renaissance*. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-313-32772-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-313-32772-8).

- [Mason, James](/source/James_Mason_(chess_player)) (1947). *The Art of Chess*. Dover Publications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-486-20463-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-486-20463-5). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [45271009](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/45271009). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date)) (see the included supplement, "How Do You Play Chess")

- [Pachman, Luděk](/source/Lud%C4%9Bk_Pachman) (1971). *Modern Chess Strategy*. Dover. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-486-20290-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-486-20290-7).

- [Réti, Richard](/source/Richard_R%C3%A9ti) (1960). *Modern Ideas in Chess*. Dover. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-486-20638-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-486-20638-7). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

- Rizzitano, James (2004). *Understanding Your Chess*. Gambit Publications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-904600-07-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-904600-07-7). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [55205602](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/55205602).

- Steinitz, William; Landsberger, Kurt (2002). *The Steinitz Papers: Letters and Documents of the First World Chess Champion*. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7864-1193-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7864-1193-1). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [48550929](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/48550929).

- Verwer, Renzo (2010). *Bobby Fischer for Beginners*. Alkmaar: [New in Chess](/source/New_in_Chess). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-5691-315-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-5691-315-1).

- Wilkinson, Charles K. (May 1943). "Chessmen and Chess". *The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin*. New Series 1 (9): 271–79. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/3257111](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F3257111). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [3257111](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3257111).

## External links

[Library resources](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:The_Wikipedia_Library) about
 **Chess**

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**International organizations**

- [FIDE](http://www.fide.com/) – [World Chess Federation](/source/FIDE)

- [ICCF](http://www.iccf.com/) – [International Correspondence Chess Federation](/source/International_Correspondence_Chess_Federation)

**News**

- [ChessBase news](http://www.chessbase.com/)

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**History**

- [Chesshistory.com](http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/factfinder.html)

v t e Chess Outline Theory Titles Grandmaster Computer chess glossary matches engines software Correspondence chess FIDE Glossary Online chess Premove Internet chess server list Rating system world rankings norms Variants List World records Equipment Chess set Board Dubrovnik Staunton Pieces King Queen Rook Bishop Knight Pawn Fairy Clock Table Score sheets History Timeline Versus de scachis Scachs d'amor Göttingen manuscript Charlemagne chessmen Lewis chessmen Romantic chess Hypermodernism Soviet chess school Top player comparison Geography of chess Africa South Africa China Europe Azerbaijan Armenia Spain India List of chess players amateurs female grandmasters Women in chess Transgender people in chess Chess museums Bobby Fischer Center Gökyay Association Chess Museum World Chess Hall of Fame Notable games Immortal Game Evergreen Game Opera Game Peruvian Immortal Game of the Century Deep Blue versus Kasparov, 1996, Game 1 Kasparov's Immortal Kasparov versus the World Rules Castling Cheating in chess doping Check Checkmate Draw by agreement Fifty-move rule Perpetual check Stalemate Threefold repetition En passant Pawn promotion Time control Fast chess Touch-move rule White and Black Terms Blunder Chess notation algebraic descriptive PGN annotation symbols symbols in Unicode Fianchetto Gambit Key square King walk Open file Half-open file Outpost Pawns backward connected doubled isolated passed Swindle Tempo Transposition Trap Tactics Artificial castling Battery Alekhine's gun Block Checkmate patterns Combination Decoy Deflection Desperado Discovered attack Double check Fork Interference Overloading Pawn storm Pin Sacrifice Queen sacrifice Skewer Undermining Windmill X-ray Zwischenzug Strategy Compensation Exchange the exchange Initiative first-move advantage Middlegame Pawn structure Hedgehog Isolated Queen's Pawn Maróczy Bind Minority attack Piece values Prophylaxis School of chess Openings Flank opening Benko Opening Bird's Opening Dunst Opening English Opening Grob's Attack Nimzowitsch–Larsen Attack Zukertort Opening King's Indian Attack Réti Opening King's Pawn Game Alekhine's Defense Caro–Kann Defense French Defense Modern Defense Nimzowitsch Defense Open Game Four Knights Game Giuoco Piano Italian Game King's Gambit Petrov's Defense Philidor Defense Ponziani Opening Ruy Lopez Semi-Italian Opening Scotch Game Two Knights Defense Vienna Game Owen's Defense Pirc Defense Austrian Attack Scandinavian Defense Sicilian Defense Alapin Dragon/Accelerated Dragon Najdorf Scheveningen Queen's Pawn Game Colle System Dutch Defense English Defense Indian Defense Benoni Defense Modern Benoni Bogo-Indian Defense Budapest Gambit Catalan Opening Grünfeld Defense King's Indian Defense Nimzo-Indian Defense Old Indian Defense Queen's Indian Defense London System Stonewall Attack Richter–Veresov Attack Queen's Gambit Accepted Declined Slav Defense Semi-Slav Defense Chigorin Defense Torre Attack Trompowsky Attack Other List of ECO codes Theory table List of chess gambits Irregular Bongcloud Attack Fool's mate Scholar's mate Endgames Bishop and knight checkmate King and pawn vs. king Opposite-colored bishops Pawnless endgame Queen and pawn vs. queen Queen vs. pawn Queen vs. rook Rook and bishop vs. rook Rook and pawn vs. rook Lucena position Philidor position Strategy fortress opposition Tarrasch rule triangulation Zugzwang Study Tablebase Two knights endgame Wrong bishop Wrong rook pawn Tournaments List of strong chess tournaments Chess Olympiad Women Olympics Olympic Esports Series World Chess Championship List Candidates Tournament Chess World Cup FIDE Grand Prix Other world championships Women Team Rapid Blitz Junior Youth Senior Amateur Chess composition Solving Computer chess championships CCC CSVN North American TCEC WCCC WCSCC Art and media Caïssa Chess aesthetics Chess in the arts early literature film novels paintings poetry short stories Chess books opening books endgame literature Oxford Companion Chess libraries Chess newspaper columns Chess periodicals Related Arbiter Chess boxing Chess club Chess composer Chess engine AlphaZero Deep Blue Leela Chess Zero Mittens Stockfish Chess problem glossary joke chess Chess prodigy Elo rating system Mechanical Turk Simultaneous exhibition Tie-breaking in Swiss-system tournaments Solving chess Chess portal Category

v t e World Chess Championships List of World Chess Championships Interregnum Knockout format (1998–2004) Qualification: Chess World Cup FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament FIDE Circuit FIDE Grand Prix Interzonal Candidates Tournament Pre-FIDE 1886, 1889, 1890–1891, 1892 (Steinitz) 1894, 1896–1897, 1907, 1908, 1910 (Jan–Feb), 1910 (Nov–Dec) (Lasker) 1921 (Capablanca) 1927, 1929, 1934 (Alekhine) 1935 (Euwe) 1937 (Alekhine) FIDE 1948, 1951, 1954 (Botvinnik) 1957 (Smyslov) 1958 (Botvinnik) 1960 (Tal) 1961 (Botvinnik) 1963, 1966 (Petrosian) 1969 (Spassky) 1972 (Fischer) 1975, 1978, 1981 (Karpov) 1984–1985 (no result) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990 (Kasparov) Split title PCA/Classical 1993, 1995 (Kasparov) 2000, 2004 (Kramnik) FIDE 1993, 1996, 1998 (Karpov) 1999 (Khalifman) 2000 (Anand) 2002 (Ponomariov) 2004 (Kasimdzhanov) 2005 (Topalov) FIDE 2006 (Kramnik) 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 (Anand) 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021 (Carlsen) 2023 (Ding), 2024 (Gukesh), 2026 Other world championships Olympiad Rapid 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Blitz 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Team Team Rapid and Blitz 2023 2024 2025 2026 Correspondence Women Junior Youth Senior Computer Solving Chess960 2019 2022 2026 Category Portal

v t e Chess international championships World Open Women Olympiad Women Olympics Olympic Esports Series Amateur Blitz Chess960 Composition Computer Speed Junior Rapid Senior Solving Team Team Rapid and Blitz TCEC Youth Supranational African Junior Arab Asian Junior Senior Team Baltic Commonwealth EU Individual Open European Junior Youth Senior Team Club Cup Mediterranean North American Youth Oceania Pan American Junior Team Intercollegiate Team South American See also: Chess national championships

v t e Major recurring international chess tournaments Strong chess tournaments Mini chess tournaments Round-robin chess tournaments Major present (average rating > 2700; round-robin system generally) Chennai Grand Masters (since 2023) Grand Chess Tour (since 2015) Grenke Chess Festival (since 2013) Norway Chess (since 2013) Prague Chess Festival (since 2019) Shamkir Chess (since 2014) Shenzhen Masters (since 2017) Sinquefield Cup (since 2013) Tata Steel Chess Tournament (since 1938) UzChess Cup (since 2024) Tata Steel India (since 2018) Other present (Swiss system generally) Aeroflot Open (since 2002) Australasian Masters (since 1987) Biel Chess Festival (since 1968) Canadian Open (since 1956) Capablanca Memorial (since 1962) Cappelle-la-Grande Open (since 1985) Carlos Torre Repetto Memorial (since 1987) Chigorin Memorial (since 1909) Doeberl Cup (since 1963) Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting (since 1973) Dubai Open (since 1999) Hastings International Chess Congress (since 1920) Hogeschool Zeeland Tournament (since 1995) London Chess Classic (since 2009) Lublin Grandmaster Tournament (since 2009) Paul Keres Memorials (Tallinn, since 1969) (Vancouver, since 1975) Qatar Masters Open (2014–2015, since 2023) Reykjavik Open (since 1964) Rilton Cup (since 1971) Rubinstein Memorial (since 1963) South African Open (since 1962) U.S. Open (since 1900) TePe Sigeman & Co chess tournament (since 1993) Vidmar Memorial (since 1969) World Open (since 1973) Xtracon Chess Open (since 1979) Zurich Christmas Open (since 1977) Recently cancelled (after 2000) Alekhine Memorial (1956–2013, irregular) Acropolis (1968–2009) Aerosvit (2006–2008) Amber (1992–2011) Bilbao Chess Masters Final (2008–2016) Gibraltar Chess Festival (2003–2020) Howard Staunton Memorial (2003–2009) Linares (1978–2010) Mar del Plata (1928–2001) Millionaire Chess (2014–2016) M-Tel Masters (2005–2009) North Sea Cup (1976–2008) Pearl Spring (2008–2010) Reggio Emilia (1947–2012) RTU Open (2011–2024) Tal Memorial (2006–2018) Zurich Chess Challenge (2012–2017) Major past (19th–20th century) American Chess Congress (1857–1923) Carl Schlechter Memorial (1923–1996) DSB Congress (1879–1932) General Government (1940–1944) IBM international (1961–1981) Konex (1977–1994) Leopold Trebitsch Memorial (1907–1938) Lone Pine International (1971–1981) Max Euwe Memorial (1987–1996) Monte Carlo (1901–1904; 1967–1969) Netanya (1961–1983) Palma de Mallorca (1965–1972) Phillips & Drew Kings (1980–1986) Piatigorsky Cup (1963–1966) San Sebastián (1911–1912) Silesian Chess Congress (1922–1939) Tilburg (1977–1998) Triberg (1914–1917) Chess competitions National championships Supranational championships

v t e Chess pieces Orthodox pieces Bishop King Knight Pawn Queen Rook Fairy pieces (List) Alfil Amazon Berolina pawn Camel Dabbaba Empress Ferz Giraffe Grasshopper Mann Nightrider Princess Wazir Zebra Related Chess set (Staunton) Hippogonal Piece point values

v t e Chess variants (list) Orthodox rules Different starting position Fischer random chess Displacement chess Transcendental chess Different number of pieces Dunsany's chess Handicap Unorthodox board Balbo's game Circular chess Cylinder chess Double chess Grid chess Hexagonal chess (Cross chess, Masonic chess) Infinite chess Millennium 3D chess Minichess (Los Alamos chess) Rhombic chess Spherical chess Three-dimensional chess Triangular chess Unorthodox rules with traditional pieces Standard 8×8 board Andernach chess Atomic chess Beirut chess Checkless chess Chessplus Circe chess Crazyhouse Cubic chess Dynamo chess Extinction chess Hostage chess Knight relay chess Legan chess Losing chess Madrasi chess Monochromatic chess Patrol chess Portal chess Progressive chess Three-check chess Way of the Knight Multimove variants Avalanche chess Kung-Fu Chess Marseillais chess Monster chess Progressive chess Elements of chance Dark chess Dice chess Knightmare Chess Kriegspiel Penultima Unorthodox rules on an unorthodox board 5D Chess with Multiverse Time Travel Alice chess Apocalypse Chad Chessence Congo Diplomat chess Dragonfly Jeson Mor Parallel worlds chess Rollerball Unorthodox rules using non-traditional pieces Standard 8×8 board Baroque Berolina Chakra Chess with different armies Duell Falcon–hunter chess Grasshopper chess Musketeer chess Pocket mutation chess Cheskers Compound pieces Almost chess Capablanca Chess Capablanca random chess Gothic chess Grotesque chess Ladorean chess Maura's Modern chess Schoolbook chess Seirawan chess Univers chess Chancellor chess Grand Chess Embassy chess Janus Chess Maharajah and the Sepoys Modern chess Tutti-frutti chess Unorthodox boards and pieces 2000 A.D. Chesquerque Chess on a really big board Courier-Spiel Dragonchess Gess Omega Chess Stratomic Dekle's triangular chess Wildebeest chess Wolf chess Multiplayer Bosworth Bughouse chess Business chess Djambi Duchess Enochian chess Forchess Fortress chess Four Fronts Four-player chess Gala Hand and brain Quatrochess Superchess Three-man chess Three-player chess Tri-chess Inspired games Arimaa Camelot Jetan Martian Chess Navia Dratp The Duke Chess-related games Historical Chadarangam Chaturaji Chaturanga Courier chess Grant Acedrex Semedo Shatranj Short assize Great chess Tamerlane chess Great chess Completed Turkish Great chess Regional Janggi variants Makruk Senterej Shatar Shatra Shogi Chu shogi Dai shogi Other variants Sittuyin Xiangqi Jungle Banqi Manchu chess Game of the Three Kingdoms Game of the Three Friends Game of the Seven Kingdoms Other variants Software ChessV XBoard Fairy-Max Zillions of Games Related Correspondence chess Fairy chess Fairy chess piece Fairy Chess Review The Chess Variant Pages Checkers

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**Chess** at Wikipedia's [sister projects](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikimedia_sister_projects):

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chess](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.