Changes

Modern international chess has a powerful, sweeping [[queen]] who was not a piece provided in the original game.  The long reach of bishops today was also lacking at first.  Maneuvers such as castling or capturing ''en passant'' have been developed within the past few hundred years.

Modern international chess has a powerful, sweeping [[queen]] who was not a piece provided in the original game.  The long reach of bishops today was also lacking at first.  Maneuvers such as castling or capturing ''en passant'' have been developed within the past few hundred years.

Today, chess is one of the most popular board games in the world.  International competitions, including world [[champion]]ship events, are organized by an organization called FIDE and American competition organized by the USCF ([[United States Chess Federation]]). The only American world champion was [[Bobby Fischer]], although [[Paul Morphy]] of [[Louisiana]] was likely the strongest player in the world in the 1850s, before a formal world champion was determined.  The current World Chess Champion is [[Norway|Norwegian]] [[Magnus Carlsen]].  Prior to that, the world champion was [[India|Indian]] [[Viswanathan Anand|Viswanathan "Vishy" Anand]].

Today, chess is one of the most popular board games in the world.  International competitions, including world [[champion]]ship events, are organized by an organization called FIDE and American competition organized by the USCF ([[United States Chess Federation]]). The only American world champion was [[Bobby Fischer]], although [[Paul Morphy]] of [[Louisiana]] was likely the strongest player in the world in the 1850s, before a formal world champion was determined.  The current World Chess Champion is [[Norway|Norwegian]] Magnus Carlsen.  Prior to that, the world champion was [[India|Indian]] Viswanathan Anand|Viswanathan "Vishy" Anand.

Chess presents interesting intellectual challenges.  It is said that {{Cquote|Chess has an advantage over most school subjects: it combines both [[theory and practice]]. Ideas are honed and tested in the crucible of competitive play. Poor formulation or poor execution of ideas loses games. Careless, faulty thinking is ruthlessly refuted on the chessboard.<ref>[http://users.eniinternet.com/bradleym/NoAlt.html]</ref>}}

Chess presents interesting intellectual challenges.  It is said that {{Cquote|Chess has an advantage over most school subjects: it combines both [[theory and practice]]. Ideas are honed and tested in the crucible of competitive play. Poor formulation or poor execution of ideas loses games. Careless, faulty thinking is ruthlessly refuted on the chessboard.<ref>[http://users.eniinternet.com/bradleym/NoAlt.html]</ref>}}

Chess engines have increased in strength in recent years to the point where humans are falling behind. In 2005, Michael Adams, one of the top fifteen players in the world, played a six game match against the engine Hydra, and lost five games with only one draw. Chess writer Eric Schiller, who uses computer assistance in writing his books, admits that "computers have taken some of the fun out of (chess)." Despite this, chess remains far from being a [[solved game]].

Chess engines have increased in strength in recent years to the point where humans are falling behind. In 2005, Michael Adams, one of the top fifteen players in the world, played a six game match against the engine Hydra, and lost five games with only one draw. Chess writer Eric Schiller, who uses computer assistance in writing his books, admits that "computers have taken some of the fun out of (chess)." Despite this, chess remains far from being a [[solved game]].

==External links==

==External links==