The game is played on a square checkered chessboard. At the start, each player ("white" and "black") controls sixteen pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. The object of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king, whereby the king is under immediate attack (in "check") and there is no way to remove it from attack on the next move. Theoreticians have developed extensive chess strategies and tactics since the game's inception.

Nautical Theme Chess Piece Set

*Spectacular Craftsmanship *Durable Construction *Enjoy hours of game play! Prepare for battle! If you're looking for soldiers in the greatest game ever invented by mankind, look no further than this Nautical Chess Set. And if you're an ocean or beach person, then these unique chess pieces are for you! Crafted from solid pewter, these metal chess pieces are stunning in their craftsmanship and dynamic in their functionality. The detailed metallic and gold metal chess set also makes an unforgettable gift! All you need is an opponent! King measures 2 3/4" H. *This item ships directly from the manufacturer. Product usually arrives in 2-8 business days, depending on destination, including order processing and shipping. *Express delivery not available. *Assembly level/degree of difficulty: No Assembly Required

Chess is played on a square board of eight rows (called ranks and numbered 1 to 8) and eight columns (called files and labeled a to h) of squares. The colors of the sixty-four squares alternate and are referred to as "light squares" and "dark squares". The pieces are divided into two matching sets, by convention called White and Black or in some corridors Light and Dark. Each player, referred to by the color of his pieces, begins the game with sixteen pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights and eight pawns. The chessboard is placed with a light square at each player's right on the nearest rank, and the pieces are set out on the two ranks closest to each player, as shown in the diagram. Each queen stands on a square of its own color.

The player who is chosen to be White makes the first move. This is usually decided by placing a white and a black pawn inside each person's hands and then shuflling them behind his/her back. The other person then picks a hand and depending on the color chosen plays as that the entire game. The players then alternate moving one of their own pieces (with the exception of castling, when a rook and the king are moved simultaneously). Each type of piece has its own unique method of movement. Pieces are moved to either an unoccupied square, or one occupied by an opponent's piece. With one exception (en passant), an opponent's piece is captured and removed from play by moving a piece to the square that the enemy piece occupies. When a piece can be captured on the next move, it is said to be "threatened" or "under attack".

When a player's king is under attack, it is said to be in check. A player is not permitted to make any move that would place his king in check. If his king is in check, he must make a move to take the king out of check. If this is not possible, the player is checkmated and loses the game.

Chess games do not have to end in checkmate - either player may resign if the situation looks hopeless. Games also may end in a draw (tie). A draw can occur in several situations, including draw by agreement, stalemate, threefold repetition of a position, the fifty move rule, or a draw by impossibility of checkmate (usually because of insufficient material to checkmate).

A King can move only one square in any direction(horizontally, vertically, or diagonally).

A Queen can be moved in a straight line vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, any number of unoccupied squares, thus combining the moves of the rook and bishop.

A Bishop has no restrictions in distance for each move, but is limited to diagonal movement. Bishops cannot jump over other pieces. A bishop captures by occupying the square on which an enemy piece sits.

A Knight move is unusual among chess pieces. When it moves, it can move two squares horizontally and one square vertically, or two squares vertically and one square horizontally. The complete move therefore looks like the letter 'L'. Unlike all other standard chess pieces, the knight can 'jump over' all other pawns and pieces ( of either colour) to its destination square. It captures an enemy piece by moving into its square.

A Rook moves horizontally or vertically, forward or back, through any number of unoccupied squares. Like other pieces, it captures by occupying the square on which an enemy piece stands. The rook also participates, along with the king, in a special move called castling.

Pawns are unusual in movement and use. Unlike all the other pieces, pawns may not move backwards. Normally a pawn moves by advancing a single square, but the first time each pawn is moved from its initial position, it has the option to advance two squares. Pawns may not use the initial two-square advance to jump over an occupied square, or to capture. Any piece directly in front of a pawn, friend or foe, blocks its advance.

For more detailed information, click on the name of each piece.

Deluxe Civil War Chess Set $199.95

Each piece of this remarkable set is a miniature work of art, marching across a frosted-glass "battlefield". Lifelike horse-head corner columns hold the board aloft. A truly theatrical twist on the classic game of strategy and an absolute "must" for Civil War collectors and chess fanatics alike! Comes complete with polystone pieces and etched glass board. Each playing piece is approximately 1 5/8 inch diameter x 5 5/8 inch high; board is 21 1/2 inch diameter x 1/2 inch thick; each corner column is 3 1/8 inch x 4 1/2 inch x 5 inch high. May require additional freight charge.

Civil War Chess Set $64.95

Colourful, detailed Civil War chess set. Alabastrite. 14 5/8 inch x 14 5/8 inch high.

Deluxe Pewter Chess Set - Egyptian Chessmen $235.00

*Spectacular Craftsmanship *6-Piece Chess Set *Solid Pewter with Gold Highlights *Egyptian Theme *King Measures 3" High Prepare for battle! If you're looking for soldiers in the greatest game ever invented by mankind, look no further than this 6-piece Egyptian chess set. Stunning in their craftsmanship, and dynamic in their functionality, these unique chess pieces offer an exotic twist on the classic game. The Egyptian chess pieces are constructed of solid pewter, with exquisite metallic and gold highlights. King measures 3" H. All you need is an opponent! *This item ships directly from the manufacturer. Product usually arrives in 2-8 business days, depending on destination, including order processing and shipping. *Express delivery not available. *Assembly level/degree of difficulty: No Assembly Required

Wildlife Animal Chess Set $59.95

Plan a wild strategy with this safari-inspired chess set featuring animals from the African veldt. Chess board: 15 inch x 15 inch x 1 3/4 inch thick.

Army Chess Set $99.95

Strategize, scheme and plan your attack in the historical style of the great World War generals! Clever "soldier" pieces are wonderfully authentic, right down to their khakis and packs. Includes pieces and board. Polyresin. Each piece is approx. 3 inch high. Board is 15 inch square x 2 3/8 inch high.

Chinese Warrior Chess Set $89.95

Straight from the pages of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War." The lid of this wood case holds alabastrite chessmen fashioned after Chinese warriors. The lid slides off to become the board (backgammon on the other side). 14 inch x 14 inch x 2 3/8 inch high. Price per set.

If you've made it to the bottom of this page I feel complimented because it means that something on this lens has peaked your interest, and that's why I made it. So now I'll tell you a little about myself.

As I said in my profile, I enjoy collecting and since I retired I've found that building these lenses is a great way to stay busy; And, I hope that I'm helping some of you out by gathering information on your favorite subject and putting it all in one place so you don't have to spend hours searching for it.

I spend part of my time designing t-shirts and buttons to help supplement my social security because, as many of you know, it's pretty difficult to make it on social security. My on-line t-shirt shop is called Dene's Place after my wife.

My "retirement" came a few years earlier than I would have liked because they found that I have an inoperatable tumor about the size of a softball in my right pelvic area. They still don't know what to do about it because for now it has quit growing. One of those "leave it alone and see what happens" type things.

Anyway, if you've made it this far, I'd appreciate it if you would check out Dene's Place to see if there's anything that you might like for yourself or as a gift. It helps me pay the bills!

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out my other lenses when you have time.

Much of the information used here has been researched from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.