Typically, when we think of a board game, our minds could wander off in many different directions. Perhaps it’s that dusty board of monopoly you haven’t played since you were a kid. Perhaps you think of “Articulate!” a quick combination of wit and creativity, or maybe it’s that green scrabble board. But for many young children and adults, the classical game of chess is the first thing that pops up. In light of the ongoing world chess championship, we’ll explore some features of how this game came to light, and explore why this game deserves its position as the true “king” of board games. 

The initiative of chess is both simple and complex. In short, chess is a game played between 2 players with 16 pieces each on a 8×8 chessboard, with different pieces being able to move in different ways. The player with the white pieces moves first, and then the players take turns moving 1 piece at a time (excluding castling). The goal is to reach “checkmate”, or to capture the opponent’s king (this does not actually happen as the game ends when the king is unable to avoid danger). Statistically, there are more chess positions reachable than atoms in the universe: after both players have taken 1 move, there are 400 positions, but after 3 moves, more than 100 million positions exist. While the basics of chess are elementary, the difficulty lies not in knowing WHAT or HOW to play, but rather WHERE and WHY the moves are made. 

Classical chess is believed to have originated in India from a game called Chaturanga (estimated 500 BCE), which consisted of pieces such as the elephant, chariot and infantry (though there are many alternative theories, such as some which suggest origins from China or Persia). It is believed that chess then spread, via many trade routes, to Persia. Here, the introduction of a new piece, the ferz, played an influential role in the development of classical chess, as it has now transitioned to (arguably) the most powerful piece, the queen. The game then continued to be spread across Europe through many trade routes, and evolved to the modern form in the 15th century. Today, it is reported that over 70% of adults in the USA, UK, India, Germany and Russia have played chess in their lives, and this number continues to grow due to the accessibility of online platforms like chess.com and lichess.org. 

So why is it one of, if not the most popular board games? Playing chess requires a great deal of focus, calculation, and above all discipline. Playing the correct move will lead to a better and improving position, but playing an inaccurate move may lead to vulnerabilities in one’s position which the opponent is able to exploit. Especially under short time pressures (with games ranging from just 1 minute for each player, to over 2 hours), it may be extremely difficult to find the right move quickly, meaning one has to remain calm and composed, even in non-optimal positions, as any wrong move will only exacerbate the situation. 

On a broader scale, chess is a game which has the ability to unite many people, no matter their language, gender, ethnicity or age. You may ask, “Doesn’t that apply to any board game, or even mobile game, as you’re not required to talk?”. On one hand, yes. On the other, not really. Online games generally require some sort of communication. Chess is an individual sport (or game), meaning the only communication that is required is the movement of pieces. Additionally, the chess platform is one of the most developed platforms, especially on an online scale. How many of you have played, say, monopoly or scrabble, online, or seen others play it? A significant reason behind this is the accessibility and versatility of the game. Time settings can be allocated for as short as a minute per player (sometimes even less!), meaning the time commitment is not an issue. No network? No problem! Many chess apps also have versions where you are able to play against chess bots without any losing consequences. 

Overall, chess is a fascinating game that has come a long way. Nowadays, it is the online community, versatility and accessibility of the game that allows it to transcend many barriers such as age or ethnicity.