Play Chess Online

Chess is indeed one of the oldest games in the world. However, just how old it is isn’t really known. Some rumors have is as more than 2,000 years old. However, the best supporting evidence suggests that the earliest form of chess was played in India in the 6th century AD. Since then chess has spread around the world. Chess became more like the game we now play in the 15th century. However, it wasn’t until the 1800’s when the game really became popular. That’s when tournaments, chess clocks, championships, and titles like Grandmaster were introduced.

Chess is now one of the most popular game in the world! Chess clubs can be located all over earth holding hundreds of millions of players. Chess is growing even more quickly now that schools and parents recognize the benefits to children’s social and intellectual skills. Chess clubs are popping up all over in school. The Internet and chess computers have also enabled more to play and to increase their skill level in the game. Anyone can now play anytime, you don’t need to worry about finding an opponent to play with. Players can also use the Internet and chess software to help them train and learn. Chess was once predominantly a man’s came, has women and girls learning chess in record numbers.

Chess will certainly keep growing. Younger and younger players are achieving Grandmaster status. Players will have to be more accurate in their openings as computer training becomes more available. As chess becomes more competitive, it is hoped that the basic fun of the game doesn’t change at all!

To learn more or to order premium chess sets and pieces, go to www.premiumchessset.com. Wholesale Chess was used as a resource for this article.

Have you ever seen a news story or magazine article about teaching inner city kids to play chess? While this may seem like just a feel good story, the benefits of playing chess are documented for children as well as adults of all ages. People who play chess experience intellectual benefits as well as social and emotional benefits. If you think that chess is boring, or that you are not smart enough to play chess or that you are too old, there are some things that you should know about chess.

1. Playing chess builds and helps to maintain intellectual abilities. When children who are in inner-city at risk schools are involved in a chess program either through the school, or another local organization they not only learn how to play chess, they also improve their math and reading skills as well. Test scores of children who learned to play chess showed an amazing improvement over the course of just a year’s time. Even kids who were not the best chess players still showed improvement. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, adults who play chess also improve their brain function and it helps their memory and may delay or diminish the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

2. Chess has social and emotional benefits as well. Children who are involved in playing chess either at school or in some other group can build skills such as learning about how to be a good winner and loser. They learn about fairness and not cheating. They also learn confidence and self-esteem as they improve their skills. Communication is improved as the children communicate with other children and adults while they play the game and discuss strategies and moves.

3. When you play chess you develop more creativity, problem solving skills, and long term strategy planning. As a child or adult first starts learning the game of chess, they may just be planning one move at a time. They do not have the skills to think ahead. But as they improve, they get better at thinking more moves in the future and planning strategies and counter strategies to defend their pieces as well as capture their opponent’s pieces. These are skills that can be used in real life as well.

Chess has been around in one form or another for over 2,000 years. The appeal of this game lies in its ability to challenge player’s intellect and strategy.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Home and Family and Hobbies. If you would like more information about how to play chess visit http://www.romchess.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eriani_Doyel

Over the years, chess spread throughout the world and enjoyed massive waves of popularity. Undoubtedly, reality is reflected in the idea that chess originated either as an aid or substitute for warfare. This stemmed from the notion that chess was invented as a war game and so, that is the manner in which it should executed. In fact in order to be knighted, it helped if you played a good game of chess.

And finally, a mention should be made of pawns; those so adequately named pieces which are even denied the status of chess ‘men’. Pawns were sacrificial pieces.

While chess might have originated as a war game, it was seen as a game of nobility and education in Europe in the 1500s. It can be seen that from actions in Europe around the year 1500 that chess had become strongly ingrained in western society. Within European Aristocracy, the concept behind chess became a royal court rather than a battlefield. However, the game’s popularity was helped by its social cache: a chess set was often associated with wealth, knowledge, and power. As a result it became fashionable for aristocrats to have live-in chess masters. In fact during difficult times in Protestant Europe there were massive attacks on “ungodly pursuits,” but chess was often defended while other pastimes were denied.

As a result chess has long been considered the ultimate test of intellectual activity. Some feel that because of its difficulty and boorishness, chess diminished in its traditional appeal. However, most will agree that the chess community has traditionally been more enlightened than the larger society.

Mass production of chess sets helped introduce chess to the lower class. The low cost to produce the Staunton set allowed the masses to purchase sets and helped to again popularize the game of chess. But chess is more than just a game of skill. Chess stood a turn in education as teachers noted that students’ behavior improved upon learning chess. How far beyond chess such aptitude can be expanded is the next big question.

One that is still argued today. Playing chess by computer began in the early 1950s, nearly as soon as computers became available. The rules of play early intrigued computer scientists-MIT wrote the first chess program in 1957. Some programmers believe that work on computer chess led to important software techniques still in use today. The worldwide fascination for chess has been astonishing. It has been said that there is more literature devoted to chess than for all other games combined. Today, chess is played world wide with international appeal.

Francesca Black works in marketing at the Puzzle Place http://www.puzzle-place.net and Chess Strategies http://www.chess-strategies.net leading puzzle and strategy portals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fran_Black