Or choose one of the ten mathematical chess puzzles:
Drag a piece from the tray on the left and drop it on any square. To take a piece off, drag it back off the board or click it. You can also click an empty square to put a piece there.
Choose a puzzle
Chess is believed to have originated in Eastern India but the game we know today dates back to the 15th century.
The game above is interactive. You can drag the pieces to move them. If a piece lands on a square occupied by another piece, that piece is removed from the board.
There are also ten mathematical chess puzzles further down this page. Solve one to earn a trophy!
Ten classic chessboard puzzles. Click a puzzle to try it: the board above becomes your workspace and the pieces wait for you in a tray just below it. Solve a puzzle to claim a trophy.
This is a game for two players. One player controls the black pieces and the other controls the white pieces. Players take it in turns (starting with white) to move one of their pieces. If their piece lands on the same square as an opposing piece, the piece that was landed on is out of the game.
The objective is to have the opposing king in a position where he is under attack (check) and cannot move to another square that is not under attack (checkmate).
Moves one square in any direction: vertically, horizontally or diagonally.
Moves any number of squares in any direction: vertically, horizontally or diagonally. She cannot jump over pieces.
The rook (or castle) moves any number of squares vertically or horizontally. It cannot jump over pieces.
Moves two squares vertically or horizontally then one square at right angles: an L shape. It can jump over pieces.
Moves any number of squares diagonally. It cannot jump over pieces.
Moves one square forward (two on its first move) but takes diagonally. A pawn reaching the far side becomes a queen.
There is a lot of mathematics in the game of chess. Here are some Numberphile videos to whet your appetite.
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Transum,
Friday, December 16, 2022
"Did you know that chess puzzles give pupils opportunities to practise mathematical thinking: spotting patterns, reasoning logically, visualising positions and working systematically. Finding a solution involves asking 'What if?', anticipating consequences and checking that a plan works. The board also provides a natural setting for exploring coordinates, symmetry and spatial relationships. Although expertise in the game of chess does not automatically translate into stronger mathematics, discussing and explaining solutions to chess puzzles can help pupils develop useful habits of precision and logical argument."