10 Chess Facts You Didn't Know About

Did you know the longest possible forced checkmate for 7 pieces is 549 moves? For context, you cannot have more than 50 moves in an official chess tournament or else the game is considered a draw. Today, we will be taking a journey through the mysterious fun world of chess facts that most people are unaware of. So let’s get straight into it!

1. The Queen Was a Weak Attacking Piece

In a standard game of chess, the queen is by far the most powerful piece, with its high mobility, but it wasn’t always the case. Did you know that, initially the queen could only move diagonally, and to only a single square, and that’s it! Imagine playing today by that rule!

This was because the Queen replaced a chess piece called “minister”, and thus adopted the move-set of that piece. However, due to cultural shifts and changes, possibly due to powerful female monarchs during the Middle Ages, the power of the Queen on the chessboard also grew. Chess facts like these show us how the game has evolved over time.

2. There are 10^120 possible games of chess, which is more than there are electrons in the visible universe.

It is hard to wrap your brain around how just 32 pieces on a 64-squared board can be utilized to play so many distinct variants of the same game. For context, when we say the possibilities of chess games are over 10 ^ 120, that's 10, followed by a hundred and twenty zeroes, or a novemtrigintillion!
At this level, it is impossible for our brains to grasp the sheer number of games, and this is exactly why in tournaments when you see players competing, you’ll often hear “They’ve reached a new position”. This means that this position has never been reached before in the recorded history of chess!
Such chess facts show us why even chess engines also struggle to completely understand the board as the enormous number of possibilities is too overwhelming even for Artificial Intelligence.

Note: This number includes transpositions (different paths taken to reach the same position)

3. The Folding Chess Board Is an Invention of a Priest Trying To Play Chess in Disguise

An English priest created the folding chess board. Set in 1125, the story states that priests were forbidden from playing chess. So to bypass this restriction, he came up with the brilliant idea of concealing the chess board in the form of a book. The folding chess board looked like 2 books stacked on each other.

This idea solved the priest's problem and led to the widely used design of folding chess boards today. Check out the vast amount of designs in the folded chess board section at the House of Staunton to find a folding chess board that's right for you.

4. The First Computer Program to Beat a Chess Grand Master Was Deep Thought in 1988

Although chess engines have completely taken over modern chess, and no human player can ever imagine even coming close to their level of gameplay, the transition was quite intense. It all started after World War 2, as during the war, technological advancements skyrocketed, providing the world with the basis of modern computers.

The first chess engine emerged in 1957, but took over thirty years to challenge the world's best players. In 1988, IBM's Deep Thought astonished the world by defeating grandmaster Bent Larsen.

It took these engines almost another decade to finally take over the title from the reigning world champion, in 1997. After that, technological advancements only furthered the gap between human and engine gameplay.

5.  Playing Chess Can Help With Concentration, Memory, and Problem-Solving Abilities

Research has indicated that playing chess can enhance one's cognitive ability, particularly in younger individuals. The mental exercise it requires to play chess can greatly help children improve their intelligence and memory, as well as problem-solving skills and attention. These chess facts demonstrate the game’s educational impact.

All of these are qualities of a good chess player, so it makes sense why chess helps in boosting these attributes. If this has sparked your interest to introduce chess to your child, or someone you know, There are few simple steps you can follow to find your child a chess club and community.

6. There Is a Combined Chess-Boxing Hybrid Match, First Held in Amsterdam, 2003

A true representation of brain and brawn, this hybrid style of play is popular in many places, especially in Europe. Two players spar off in a boxing ring, but there is a chess board laid out there as well. Both players compete with each other in a round of chess followed by a round of boxing, with a 11 rounds in total for the match.

The chess round lasts 4 minutes and the boxing round lasts 3. You should either defeat your opponent or have more time on the clock to win the chess round. Thus, winning this hybrid game requires exceptional mental, as well as physical capabilities.

7. The Most Expensive Set Cost Millions of Dollars.

The Jewel Royale Chess Set costs nine million dollars! Expert hands crafted this piece of art using the most valuable material available. Gold and platinum were carved into base and pieces, and decorated with precious stones such as diamonds and rubies.

If you’re interested in premium chess sets, why not check out some of the best, hand-crafted, luxury chess sets available.

8. There Are Several Chess Variations in Use Today, Including 6-player Chess, Crazyhouse Chess, and Chess960

Throughout history, we have played chess in many ways. Although a standard method was adopted around the year 1500, many different forms of playing styles are still widely used.

• Chess960: Classic chess with randomized starting positions.
• Crazyhouse: Captured pieces can be re-entered on the board by your side.
• 6-Player Chess: Three teams of two players each on a hexagonal board.

9. The 1st World Championship Is Over A Century Old

The first-ever International Chess Championship tournament to declare the best player in the world was held in 1886, and conducted in the US. Although there had been a few unofficial matches between the leading chess players across the world, this was the first time it occurred on a globally recognized scale.

The championship acknowledged Wilhelm Steinitz as the first-ever chess champion. There have been about 22 different world champions since then, with several players regaining their titles. The Soviet Union has produced the majority of these top chess players.

10. Blind Players Can Play To a Very High Level

By committing the board and pieces to memory, these individuals can visualize the game in their heads. In fact, many skilled players are able to play the game with some level of accuracy blindfolded.

Teams of blind players from all around the globe participate in the FIDE Blind Chess Olympiad, which is specifically designed for these handicapped chess players.

Final Thoughts

The game of chess is filled with surprises, from the 549-move checkmate pattern to the comedic origin of folding chess boards. Exploring the light, entertaining side of the game can help you appreciate chess more. Especially since the game is often considered system-drive and logical, these fun chess facts can help us stay in touch with the human part of the game.