|
Chess
The Game
It is
played on a square board of eight rows
(called ranks) and eight columns
(called files), giving 64 squares of
alternating colour, light and dark,
with each player having a light square
at the near right corner when facing
the board. Each player begins the game
with 16 pieces which can move in
defined directions (and in some
instances, limited range) and can
remove other pieces from the board:
each player's pieces comprise eight
pawns, two knights, two bishops, two
rooks, one queen and one king. One
player controls the white pieces; the
other player controls the black pieces
(the player that controls white is
always the first player to move).
In chess, when a player's king is
directly threatened by one or more of
the opponent's pieces, the player is
said to be in 'check'. When in check,
only moves that can evade check, block
check or take the offending piece are
permitted. The object of the game is
to checkmate the opponent; this occurs
when the opponent's king is in check,
and no move can be made that would
escape from check.
Chess
is not a game of chance; it is based
solely on tactics and strategy.
Nevertheless, the game is so complex
that not even the best players can
consider all contingencies: although
only 64 squares and 32 pieces are on
the board, the number of possible
games that can be played far exceeds
the number of atoms in the universe
(see Shannon number).
Chess is one of the world's most
popular games; it has been described
not only as a game but also as an art
and a science. Chess is sometimes seen
as an abstract war game; as a "mental
martial art", and teaching chess has
been advocated as a way of enhancing
mental prowess. Chess is played both
recreationally and competitively in
clubs, tournaments, online, and by
mail (correspondence chess). Many
variants and relatives of chess are
played throughout the world. |
