The game of is believed to have originated in India, from where it moved to Europe and the Middle East. The earliest literary reference to the game dates back to Persia in the fifth century A.D. It is among the most popular games that the world has known, and a mind-boggling number of people are aware of the rules of the game. Even the uninitiateds are familiar with the name of Garry Kasparov who achieved the highest rating by the World Federation till date. As recently as September 2007, Vishwanathan Anand became the World Champion.

The game of required us to put on our thinking caps. Football and tennis may reveal the physical fitness of a sportsperson, but a well-played game of exhibits the mental agility of the player. The game may be slow, but enthusiasts will assert that it is not at all boring. The strategies and tactics that are utilized by the players reveal their skill at the game. Over the centuries, strategies of various kinds have been developed by expert players such as Philidor and Steinitz. Today, hundreds of books offer to help beginners learn the tricks of the game.

The kings of the past may have used the game to develop their strategy for war. Nowadays, it has transformed into a popular sport. Playing the game online has become quite an obsession. However, the basic principles remain unchanged. The player must still exercise foresight and caution before making a move. If one is looking to win, one cannot afford to make rash moves.

It would not be wrong to say that the Internet has fuelled a further craze for the game of chess. In the fast-paced world that we inhabit, it is often difficult to find a fellow enthusiast who has the time for a game. However, on turning to the online world, we can find other like-minded players. Alternatively, we can play against the computer itself. The rise of online has ensured that more and more people are beginning to fine tune their chess-playing skills.

We may read scores of books that tell us "How to Play Chess". We may seek advice from people who are fairly expert at the game. However, the best advice comes from actually playing the game. Those of us who are hooked to the online version of will testify that it has helped us hone our skills to a great extent.