Chess

Chess is one of the most popular games in the world and has been around over 1300 years. Two people can play on a chess board (divided into 64 squares of alternating color) and each player gets 16 pieces. Basically, chess is like a battle between 2 opposing armies and the board is a battlefield.   There are traditional black and white sets, but there are also really cool chess sets with many different looks, materials and colors. 

chess, board games

All chess sets contain these pieces for each player: 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks (look like castles), 2 bishops (usually tall & a bit pointy), 2 knights (look like horses), and 8 pawns (the smallest pieces).  Different pieces have different ways of moving across the board, and the goal is to capture your opponent’s king. A turn consists of a single act of either capturing an opponent’s piece or moving one of your own. 

Unlike checkers, you cannot capture multiple pieces during one move.  It is not that hard to learn the rules of chess, but can take a lifetime to really master the game.  It is a game of strategy and skill that has stood the test of time. Check out some online sites to learn to play or see if there is a chess club at your school.