Chess is a two-player board game that combines enjoyment with competitive strategy. Often referred to as Western or international chess to distinguish it from related games like Xiangqi, chess has a rich history. The modern form of the game evolved in Southern Europe during the late 15th century, developing from much older games of Indian and Persian origin.

Chess is an abstract strategy game played on a square board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. Each player begins with sixteen pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. One player controls the white pieces, and the other controls the black pieces. The primary objective is to checkmate the opponent's king, placing it under attack ("in check") with no legal moves available to escape. Additionally, there are several conditions under which a game can end in a draw. Chess is unique in that it involves no hidden information, with all pieces and moves visible to both players.