What is chess? Definition, rules and how to start

What is chess?

Chess is a strategy game for two players. Each starts with sixteen pieces on a board of 64 squares, and there’s just one objective: trap the opponent’s king so it can’t escape. That’s called checkmate.

Sounds simple, right? The magic is that every game is different. There are more possible chess games than atoms in the observable universe. That’s what makes it the most studied game in history.

What’s on the board?

Let’s go through it quickly. Each player starts with these pieces:

• 1 king — the most important piece. If it falls, you lose.
• 1 queen — the most powerful on the board.
• 2 rooks
• 2 bishops
• 2 knights
• 8 pawns — the soldiers who open the way

In total, 32 pieces: 16 white and 16 black. White always moves first.

Want to know how each one moves? I’ll explain them piece by piece with interactive examples.

What’s the objective?

To deliver checkmate to the enemy king. To do that you have to threaten the opponent’s king with one of your pieces so that it can’t do anything to escape: it can’t move, capture the attacking piece, or block with another piece between the two.

The king is never captured. When the situation becomes unavoidable, the losing player resigns. That’s what you’ll see in professional games.

If you want to master it from the start, take a look at the complete rules of chess.

How is a game played?

A game has three clearly different phases:

1. Opening — the first moves. The goal is to control the center and develop your pieces. There are hundreds of studied openings.
2. Middlegame — this is where the tactical battles happen. Attacks, defenses, sacrifices.
3. Endgame — few pieces remain and the king comes into play. A small mistake can cost the game.

To learn to handle all three phases from scratch, I recommend starting with how to play chess.

History and origin of chess

Chess was born more than 1,500 years ago. The most widely accepted version is that it was invented in India, probably in the 6th century AD, with a game called chaturanga. From there it traveled to Persia, where Arabs adopted it and spread it across the entire Islamic world.

It arrived in Europe in the Middle Ages and evolved into the form we know today by the 15th century. The first official World Championship was held in 1886. Today chess is recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee, and its competitions are organized by FIDE.

Curious? I tell the whole story in the article about the origin of chess.

Why learn chess?

There are studies linking chess to improved memory, concentration and logical thinking. But beyond that: it’s fun, challenging, and you can practice it anytime.

Once you understand how the pieces move, the next step is to play. You can play against the computer right now to start getting a feel for it without pressure.

And if you want to learn in an organized way, from the very first moves to basic tactical concepts, I have a free chess course ready, made exactly for you.