Schach

Schach, the German name for chess, is a two-player strategy board game played on an 8x8 grid. The objective is to checkmate the opponent's king, a position in which the king is under threat of capture with no legal moves to escape.

Each side begins with 16 pieces: a king, a queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. The standard starting position places the major pieces on the back rank and the pawns on the second rank. White moves first, and players alternate turns.

Pieces move according to distinct patterns: pawns advance one square forward (with an option to move two on their initial move) and capture diagonally; knights move in an L shape; bishops move diagonally; rooks move horizontally or vertically; the queen can move in any direction; the king moves one square in any direction.

Special rules include castling, which develops the king and rook while keeping the king safe; en passant, a capture available to a pawn that has just moved two squares past a neighboring pawn; and pawn promotion, when a pawn reaches the far side and may be promoted to a higher piece, typically a queen.

Chess originated in northern India during the early centuries CE as chaturanga and spread to Persia, then to the Islamic world and Europe, evolving into modern chess. The first official world championship took place in 1886, and standardized rules were established in the 19th century.

Today, Schach is played worldwide at clubs, schools, online, and in professional tournaments. The World Chess Federation (FIDE) governs international competition, rates players, and sanctions world championships. The game is known for its rich theory, strategic depth, and wide range of playing styles.