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chess
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A chessboard showing the standard starting position for a game, with white and black pieces arranged in two rows on each side: rooks, knights, bishops, queen, and king on the back row, and pawns in front. A chessboard with a king piece at the center, surrounded by arrows pointing in all eight directions, illustrating that the king can move one square in any direction. A chessboard with a black rook at the center, and arrows showing that the rook can move any number of squares vertically or horizontally across the board. A chessboard with a bishop in the center square and four arrows extending diagonally from it, illustrating that the bishop moves any number of squares diagonally in all directions. A chessboard diagram with a queen at the center, showing arrows in all eight directions-vertical, horizontal, and diagonal-to illustrate how the queen can move any number of squares in those directions. A chessboard diagram with a knight in the center square, showing eight arrows that illustrate the L-shaped moves the knight can make in any direction. A chessboard showing two black pawns: one with an arrow indicating a forward move, and another with an arrow pointing diagonally to a square, illustrating how pawns move and capture. A Chinese chess board with a yellow grid, labeled rows and columns, and two sets of round playing pieces-black at the top and red at the bottom-arranged in their starting positions, separated by a central river. Close-up of Lewis Chessmen, intricately carved ivory chess pieces with expressive faces, arranged on a chessboard. Zsófia, Susan, and Judit Polgár
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Thumbnail for 'Which Came First' Quiz. Composite image. Left is a stack of chocolate chip cookies on an orange background, right is a stack of off-brand oreos on a blue background. Dessert, food, snack
The Dating Game: Which Came First? Vol. 2
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Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
A chessboard showing the standard starting position for a game, with white and black pieces arranged in two rows on each side: rooks, knights, bishops, queen, and king on the back row, and pawns in front.
Position of chess pieces at the beginning of a game Position of chess pieces at the beginning of a game. The pieces are placed on the two ranks closest to the player. In the closest rank, pieces are arranged from left to right: rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight, and rook. In front of that rank, each square has a pawn.

chess

game
Written by
Andrew E. Soltis
Solitis is a Grandmaster of chess and one of the most distinguished writers on the game. His column “Chess to Enjoy” is one of the longest-running columns in Chess Life, the monthly publication...
Andrew E. Soltis
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
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•History

chess, one of the oldest and most popular board games, played by two opponents on a checkered board with specially designed pieces of contrasting colours, commonly white and black. White moves first, after which the players alternate turns in accordance with fixed rules, each player attempting to force the opponent’s principal piece, the king, into checkmate—a position where it is unable to avoid capture. (Read Garry Kasparov’s explanation of why his experience playing chess against...

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