Chess is a two-player strategy board game played on a chessboard, a checkered gameboard with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is played on a square board divided into 64 squares of alternating color. Each player has 16 pieces of different colors: eight pawns, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, a queen, and a king.
The game can be traced back to 6th century India. It is thought to have originated in the court of the ruler Chandra Gupta II. From India, it spread to Persia. From Persia, it was introduced to the Arab world. And from the Arab world, it spread to Europe.
The game is played by making moves with the pieces. The goal is to capture the opponent's king. The king can be captured by putting it in checkmate, which is a position from which the king cannot escape.
There are many different strategies and tactics that can be used in chess. Beginners usually start by learning how the different pieces move. They then learn about basic principles, such as controlling the center of the board, developing their pieces, and making sure their king is safe.
As they become more experienced, players learn more advanced concepts, such as pawn structure, openings, and endgames. Chess can be played at many different levels, from casual games between friends to competitive tournaments.