Chess is a competitive board game played between two participants. Each is represented by pieces of opposite colors, usually black and white are used. The object of the game is to conquer the “king” of your opponent.
To play it is necessary a board composed of eight columns and eight rows, which results in 64 possible spaces for the mobility of the pieces. The pieces are made up of eight pawns, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, a queen and a king.
Each piece has its peculiarity in the way it moves on the board. The pawn is only allowed forward moves, so the first move of each pawn can span two squares, the other moves are restricted to one square ahead. Although it moves forward, the pawn's attack always takes place diagonally. The tower can run, with no restrictions on the number of squares, forward/backward/right/left. The horse performs “L” movements (two squares in one direction and one square perpendicular to that), in any direction. The movement of the bishop takes place, just like in the case of rooks, without limitation of squares, but only diagonally. The queen has free movement in the game. The king can only be moved from house to house, albeit in any direction on the board.
The movement of the pieces, by the players, is done according to a well-thought-out strategy. That is why chess is often used as an analogy for any other strategic actions, such as political actions, for example.
Here is the model of a chess board with the initial disposition of the pieces:
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| TOWER | HORSE | BISHOP | KING | QUEEN | BISHOP | HORSE | TOWER |
| PAWN | PAWN | PAWN | PAWN | PAWN | PAWN | PAWN | PAWN |
| PAWN | PAWN | PAWN | PAWN | PAWN | PAWN | PAWN | PAWN |
| TOWER | HORSE | BISHOP | KING | QUEEN | BISHOP | HORSE | TOWER |
You may be wondering why chess is considered a sport. This question is very valid because, in general, we usually relate sport to physical activity. However, this is not what characterizes the sport. For an activity to be considered a sport, it must have fixed rules; be regulated by Federations and Confederations; present competitive character; benefit winners with rewards of an extrinsic type such as medals, trophies and cash prizes. Therefore, it is clear that chess fits perfectly into the “sport” category.
By Paula Rondinelli
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Physical Education from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Master in Motricity Sciences from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
PhD student in Latin American Integration at the University of São Paulo - USP
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
RONDINELLI, Paula. "Chess"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/educacao-fisica/xadrez.htm. Accessed on June 29, 2021.
