Chess has a universal appeal stretching for a span of 1400 years. It is believed that chess had originated in India and from there traveled to China and also through the Arab world to Europe.

There are historical references that in India, chess was used as a tool to teach military strategy to Indian princes. That is probably how chess acquired its nickname: the Royal Game.

Chess is a game for two players. It is played on an 8x8 checkered board, with a dark square in each player's lower left corner.

Each player controls its own army of pieces (chessmen). The player who controls White pieces moves first.

The goal in the chess game is to capture the opponent's king. This capture is called 'checkmate'. Checkmate happens once the king is under attack, cannot move and cannot be helped by its own army of chessmen.

Learn more at sites like The Week in Chess or play for yourself at the Internet Chess Club.