Chess is a very exciting game played with two opponents positioned on opposite sides of the chessboard consisting of 64 squares of different colors. Each Chess player uses Chess sets that have 16 pieces: 1 queen, 1 king, 2 rooks, 2 knights, 2 bishops, and 8 pawns. The final goal in the game consists of checkmating the opponent's king. This checkmate occurs when the opposing king has been forced to a position where it can be captured and is unable to escape.
Nobody is very sure of the origin of the game, but it dates back to about 2000 years ago. However, most people believe that Chess came out of games similar to chess being played in India about that time. Today's Chess game has existed since the 15th century when it developed popularity in Europe.
If you wish to learn how to play chess, then you should be interested in knowing the best ways to learn chess. It is a game of skill that anyone can easily learn how to play in a short time.
Read Chess Books
You can pick of a lot of the basics and rules of Chess by reading books on the game, which can be found in the local library. The basics, such as the Chess sets, Chess boards and the fundamental moves of the game, can be learned from books. Some books that can help you to quickly pick up the game are; The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess by Patrick Wolff, Chess For Success by Tony Gillam, Beginning Chess by Bruce Pandolfini.
Chess in Cyberspace
There are a lot of places on the Internet where you can learn how to play Chess; you can easily learn the basic rules of the game such as tactics, the theory of the middle game, the end game and opening.
Also, on the internet, you have the opportunity of playing with both stimulated online opponents and real live opponents to quicken your learning speed as well as sharpen your skills.
Chess Programs
You can buy off-the-shelf Chess software that you install in your computer. This will tutor you on the game and generate computer chess opponents at different skill levels to match your skill. This is perhaps the fastest way of learning the game as you do not have to be online to play against stimulated opponents.
Ultimately, the Chess game is best learned by playing it and becomes more challenging and stimulating the more you participate in it. You can learn different strategies and observe the chess patterns as you progress. Improvement in the game is always picked up gradually. Chess is a game that has a lifelong learning; you can never really know it all, not even the gurus.
It is a game of sheer tactics, strategies and ultimate test of skill and intelligence. It has the ability to increase the mental strength of the player. It is because of these qualities of the game that endeared it to many all over the world, while withstanding technology and time, which in fact has aided the game giving it more appeal to the modern world.
An investment in Chess education is worth it. The game commands the respect of the elite; and it's fascinating. So what are you waiting for? Get some chess sets, and Chess boards, and then go find somebody to play!