Changes

Chess can be helpful in overcoming addictions exploiting images or patterns, including [[pornography]], [[gambling]], [[video games]], and [[Unplug the NFL|televised football]]. Chess fills the mind with a healthy activity while reinforcing the devastating consequences ("checkmate") of bad decisions.<ref>https://chessimprover.com/chess-and-addiction/</ref>  Temerity is punished in chess, as is timorousness.  Chess seems to fend off obesity, unlike unhealthy hobbies; almost no top chess players are obese despite the game's sedentary nature.

Chess can be helpful in overcoming addictions exploiting images or patterns, including [[pornography]], [[gambling]], [[video games]], and [[Unplug the NFL|televised football]]. Chess fills the mind with a healthy activity while reinforcing the devastating consequences ("checkmate") of bad decisions.<ref>https://chessimprover.com/chess-and-addiction/</ref>  Temerity is punished in chess, as is timorousness.  Chess seems to fend off obesity, unlike unhealthy hobbies; almost no top chess players are obese despite the game's sedentary nature.

Many women play and benefit from chess, charmingly elevating it as an art form in popular streaming commentaries such as twitch.tv/chess.<ref>https://www.twitch.tv/chess</ref> While virtually all the top tournament chess players are male, and only about 1% of the 1500 grandmasters are female, many of the top chess streaming shows are hosted by women.

Many women play and benefit from chess, charmingly elevating it as an art form in popular streaming commentaries on such as twitch.tv/chess.<ref>https://www.twitch.tv/chess</ref> While virtually all the top tournament chess players are male, and only about 1% of the 1500 grandmasters are female, many of the top chess streaming shows are hosted by women.

Chess emphasizes individualistic pieces, in contrast to the more collectivist strategy game called "go".  Chess is more hierarchical, more militaristic, and more clear-cut when someone wins.  "Go", which is ancient Chinese incrementalist-type of board game, has far fewer decisive moves than in chess.  "Go" tournaments feature almost entirely Asian players, while the top chess players are typically from the West or from [[India]].

Chess emphasizes individualistic pieces, in contrast to more collectivist strategy game called "go".  Chess is more hierarchical, more militaristic, and more clear-cut when someone wins.  "Go", which is ancient Chinese incrementalist-type of board game, has far fewer decisive moves than in chess.  "Go" tournaments feature almost entirely Asian players, while the top chess players are typically from the West or from [[India]].

Chess is nearly unique among games in having no element of chance and requiring a high degree of foresight and anticipation of an adversary's strategy. In competitive chess, a timer is used such that quick processing of information is advantageous, particularly at high skill levels.

Chess is nearly unique among games in having no element of chance and requiring a high degree of foresight and anticipation of an adversary's strategy. In competitive chess, a timer is used such that quick processing of information is advantageous, particularly at high skill levels.

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 run by an organization called FIDE while American competitions are run 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]]n 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]]n Viswanathan "Vishy" Anand.

== Chess and and increasing mental performance ==

== Chess and and increasing mental performance ==

==Origins==

==Origins==

[[File:Alma Tadema Egyptian Chess Players 1865.jpg|thumb|[[Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema]], Egyptian Chess Players, 1865.]]

[[File:Alma Tadema Egyptian Chess Players 1865.jpg|thumb|[[Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema]], Egyptian Chess Players, 1865.]]

Modern chess is based on the [[Holy Roman Empire]], originating in the A.D. 1300s with bishops and knights as pieces and advanced moves like castling and pawn conversion available today.  Perhaps to deny its [[Christian]]-affiliated roots, chess is attributed by some to [[India]], where a game called Shaturanga was played. The earliest extant description of the game is contained in the [[Bhavishya Purana]], which dates from A.D. 300 to A.D. 600. Shaturanga used [[dice]], but [[Hinduism]] bans gambling.  As a result, a game of chess developed free from any dice or chance. The exact rules of Shaturanga are not known, but the game developed further in Persia into something similar to its modern form. The Persian game Shatranj - which remains popular in the Middle East today - is nearly identical to modern chess. By A.D. 1200 the game reached southern Europe, and in the late fifteenth century the Europeans adopted a number of changes: the queen, which had formerly been a very weak piece, became the strongest piece on the board; pawns were allowed to move two squares on the first move became standard. These changes had the effect of speeding up play, and they brought the game into the form we know today.

Modern chess is based on the [[Holy Roman Empire]], originating in the A.D. 1300s with bishops and knights as pieces and advanced moves like castling and pawn conversion available today.  Perhaps to deny its [[Christian]]-affiliated roots, chess is attributed by some to [[India]], where a game called Shaturanga was played. The earliest extant description of the game is contained in the [[Bhavishya Purana]], which dates from A.D. 300 to A.D. 600. Shaturanga used [[dice]], but [[Hinduism]] bans gambling.  As a result, a game of chess developed free from any dice or chance. The exact rules of Shaturanga are not known, but the game developed further in Persia into something similar to its modern form. The Persian game Shatranj - which remains popular in the middle east today - is nearly identical to modern chess. By A.D. 1200 the game reached southern Europe, and in the late fifteenth century the Europeans adopted a number of changes: the queen, which had formerly been a very weak piece, became the strongest piece on the board, and allowing pawns to move two squares on the first move became standard. These changes had the effect of speeding up play, and they brought the game into the form we know today.

In the 1500s [[castling]] was introduced into the game, which made attacks on the king far more difficult.  Some [[grandmaster]]s lament that change.

In the 1500s [[castling]] was introduced into the game, which made attacks on the king far more difficult.  Some [[grandmaster]]s lament that change.

==The Board==

==The Board==

The chess board is a square, divided into 64 smaller squares arranged in eight rows of eight.  The squares are alternating light and dark, with a light square in the bottom right-hand corner.  

The chess board is a square, divided into 64 smaller squares arranged in eight rows of eight.  The squares are alternating light and dark, with a light square in the bottom right hand corner.  

The horizontal rows of squares are referred to as "ranks" and the vertical rows are referred to as "files".  The goal of the game is to place the opposing king into ''checkmate'', that is, a position in which the king is under attack but cannot escape.   

The horizontal rows of squares are referred to as "ranks" and the vertical rows are referred to as "files".  The goal of the game is to place the opposing king into ''checkmate'', that is, a position in which the king is under attack but cannot escape.   

===Style===

===Style===

The most popular style of pieces are known as Staunton style pieces, the tournament standard for chess pieces, although other types exist. Often, popular themed chess sets will appear with characters from [[popular culture]] or [[fiction]] taking the places of the more common Staunton-style pieces. These novelty pieces are not tournament-sanctioned sanctioned however, and can sometimes cause confusion during gameplay as to which piece is which.

The most popular style of pieces are known as Staunton style pieces, the tournament standard for chess pieces, although other types exist. Often, popular themed chess sets will appear with characters from [[popular culture]] or [[fiction]] taking the places of the more common Staunton style pieces. These novelty pieces are not tournament sanctioned however, and can sometimes cause confusion during game play as to which piece is which.

Although chess pieces can come in a variety of materials, [[marble]] and [[glass]] tend to be very popular, but for most chess tournaments, simple [[plastic]] pieces are usually favored. Also, while many home chess sets use heavy boards made out of [[wood]] or [[stone]] or some [[polymer]] material, tournament boards are actually roll-able mats with the board printed on it.

Although chess pieces can come in a variety of materials, [[marble]] and [[glass]] tend to be very popular, but for most chess tournaments, simple [[plastic]] pieces are usually favored. Also, while many home chess sets use heavy boards made out of [[wood]] or [[stone]] or some [[polymer]] material, tournament boards are actually roll-able mats with the board printed on it.