## TL;DR

Chess is a two-player strategy board game. 64 squares, 32 pieces per side. Goal: checkmate (king under attack with no escape). Pieces: pawn (1pt), knight/bishop (3), rook (5), queen (9). Three phases: opening (develop pieces, control center), middlegame (attack/defend), endgame (few pieces, promote pawns).

## Core Explanation

Basic principles: control center (e4, d4, e5, d5), develop knights before bishops, castle early for king safety, connect rooks. Tactics: fork (attack two pieces), pin (immobilize piece protecting more valuable one), skewer, discovered attack. ELO rating system. Magnus Carlsen: highest rated (2882, 2014). Deep Blue vs. Kasparov (1997): computer defeated world champion.

## Further Reading

- [Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/71097/bobby-fischer-teaches-chess-by-bobby-fischer/)