Chess

About Chess

Chess is the king of strategy games, played for over 1,500 years. Command an army of 16 pieces — pawns, rooks, knights, bishops, a queen, and a king. Outmaneuver your opponent and deliver checkmate! Play against the computer free online.

History of Chess

Chess originated in India around the 6th century AD as a game called Chaturanga, which simulated a four-division army of infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots. The game spread to Persia, where it became known as Shatranj, and then to the Arab world following the Islamic conquest. Modern chess rules, including the powerful queen and far-reaching bishop, were established in Southern Europe during the late 15th century. Chess has been played by kings, revolutionaries, and scientists for centuries, and the World Chess Championship has been contested since 1886. The game experienced a massive surge in popularity following the 2020 Netflix series "The Queen's Gambit" and the rise of online platforms like Chess.com and Lichess.

Chess Tips & Strategies

• 💡Control the center of the board (e4, d4, e5, d5) with your pawns and pieces early in the game; central control gives your pieces maximum mobility.
• 💡Develop your knights and bishops before your queen; getting minor pieces out early creates threats and supports the center.
• 💡Castle early (usually kingside) to protect your king and connect your rooks for coordinated attacks.
• 💡Avoid moving the same piece multiple times in the opening unless there is a specific tactical reason, such as capturing or avoiding capture.
• 💡Think about your opponent's threats before every move; ask "what is my opponent trying to do?" before deciding your own plan.
• 💡In the endgame, activate your king; the king becomes a powerful piece when there are fewer pieces on the board.

Fun Facts About Chess

• ★The number of possible chess games is estimated to be 10 to the power of 120, known as the Shannon number, which exceeds the number of atoms in the observable universe.
• ★The longest possible chess game under FIDE rules is 5,949 moves, calculated based on the 75-move rule and maximum captures.
• ★In 1997, IBM's Deep Blue became the first computer to defeat a reigning world chess champion (Garry Kasparov) in a match under standard time controls.
• ★The word "checkmate" comes from the Persian phrase "shah mat," meaning "the king is helpless" or "the king is dead."

How to Play Chess

1. 1Click a piece to select it, then click a highlighted square to move
2. 2Each piece type moves differently (e.g., bishops move diagonally)
3. 3Capture opponent pieces by moving to their square
4. 4Put the opponent's King in checkmate (inescapable threat) to win
5. 5Special moves: castling, en passant, and pawn promotion

Frequently Asked Questions about Chess