This guy will always beat you at chess.

The cliché is true: Chess is the game of kings and gentlemen. Of course, don’t think that excludes women though. All this means is that the game of chess has been around for quite a long time yet contains such depth in its simplicity that people still play it at a highly competitive level till this very day.

Do you have a chess set?

First, some history.

Quickest History of Chess Ever

You might be interested to learn that Chess as we know it first appeared in the later half of the 15th century in Southern Europe, though it was based off of an even older game called Shatranj that comes from India and Persia. Shatranj has been popular around the Middle East for over 1000 years.

Kinda puts things in perspective.

Chess evolved from Shantranj into what we understand today. You may also have heard that a computer named Deep Blue trounced Garry Kasparov, arguably the best chess player in history, in 1997. Well you would have heard right. Currently we as humans are second best to computers when it comes to chess. Time to start training then, huh?

Affordable For Anyone

This is hardcore chess right here.

Luckily, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from that won’t actually break the bank. Chess sets are found pretty much everywhere and range in price form simple affordable models around $10 to extravagant decorative display sets that’ll set you back a few hundred dollars.

Chess is also one of those games that has multiple versions for fans of popular stories and characters. As usual you’ll find a Nintendo version or a Disney version with the classic chess pieces replaced with the other classic pieces like Mickey and Mario and such. Just like the new Monopoly special editions .

However, I recommend going with the Lord of the Rings version since it just seems far more impressive and relevant to the game of chess all around. Retailing for $500, you can’t get ...