Chess is an indoor game that involves a lot of skill and concentration. It is a game played by two players, each one using certain tactics and strategies that are based on the opponent’s moves. A chess game is played on a chess board using chess pieces. The board is a square with 64 equal-sized squares drawn across. The squares are of alternate colors- generally black and white or any other contrasting colors. The chess pieces are totally 32 in number- 16 for each player, comprising of eight pawns, two knights, two bishops, two rooks, one queen and one king. Each player has one set of these sixteen pieces, which are all of the same color – either black or white.

Chess requires a lot of scheming. The main objective is to eliminate as many of the opponent’s pieces as possible. The game ends when the king is eliminated. However, the game can also end in a draw. The pieces are eliminated when they come in the way of the opponent’s piece. Each kind of piece has a unique movement: the rooks can move any number of spaces vertically or horizontally; bishops can move any number of spaces in any direction diagonally; the queen can move any number of spaces diagonally, horizontally, or vertically; the king can move only one square horizontally, vertically, or diagonally; Knight can move in L shape, i.e. two spaces horizontally and one space vertically – they can jump over occupied squares and moves. When one piece comes in the way of another, it is removed from the board. Each player has to protect his/her pieces and also aim to eliminate the king of the opponent.

Free online versions of chess are available over the Internet. There are several kinds of free online chess games, with attractive options that are sure to keep you hooked for hours. These can be downloaded for free from some sites. They can also be played online with other players. These games also come with instructions, for new players. They have attractive options like game saving or loading, play-by-email, graphical HTML files, and so on. These games also have multiple levels of difficulty. All that is required is to be a member of the site. For most, membership is also free.