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[[Image:Staunton chess set.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A typical chess set and tournament clock.]]

[[Image:Staunton chess set.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A typical chess set and tournament clock.]]

'''Chess''' is a [[conservative]], intellectually challenging [[board game]] for two players.  Based purely on skill and merit without any element of chance, chess has long been one of the most popular games in the world. 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 game used to be treated as a status symbol of education and aristocracy.

'''Chess''' is a [[conservative]], intellectually challenging [[board game]] for two players.  Based purely on skill and merit without any element of chance, chess has long been one of the most popular games in the world. 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.

Compared with the strategy game "go", chess is more hierarchical, more militaristic, and more clear-cut when someone wins.  "Go" is much more of an incrementalist-type game, with less of a possibility of decisive moves than in chess.  "Go" is more popular in Asia, while chess is more popular in the West.

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 virtually 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.

One of the greatest chess players ever, Paul Morphy of [[New Orleans]], played in the mid-1800s and refused to wager on his games even though that was common and even though he often won stunning victories unexpected due to his young age.

One of the greatest chess players ever, Paul Morphy of [[New Orleans]], played in the mid-1800s and refused to wager on his games even though [[gambling]] on chess was common then, and even though he often won stunning victories unexpected due to his young age.

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.