What is Chess?

Chess is a strategic game played by 2 people on a chessboard consisting of 64 congruent squares – 32 light and 32 dark.  Each player acts as the fieldgeneral for their chess army consisting of 16 troops – 8 pawns, 2 knights, 2 bishops 2 rooks and a Queen and King. Each of these troops has their own unique movement pattern and range of sight. 

During play players aim to position these troops to create a coordinated unstoppable exposure of theiropponent’s King, called a checkmate, translated as “the King is helpless”.  The side to create a checkmate against their enemy King is considered the victor on the “miniature battlefield” of the chessboard. 

Games are started by White,followed by a response by Black.  Duringa game players alternate turns, moving one troop into a new square eachturn.   Players may move into squares occupied byenemy troops however they are prohibited from moving into squares occupied by an allied troop.  White and Black will continue to alternative moves until a winner emerges by creating checkmate or a draw (tie game) has occurred. 

Players are NOT allowed to skiptheir turn, and players are not allowed to make 2 moves in a row, although during a special technique, called castling, players can move 2 troops during 1 turn! 

Although starting from seemingly simple rules, chess can be a highly complex battle of wits, while also being away to relax, improve mental cognition and make new friends.  If you’d like to learn a bit about the history of the game check out A Brief History of Chess.