Checkered Tales: 50 Intriguing Facts and Events from Chess History

The World Chess Federation adjusts tournament matchups to avoid pairing Iranians against Israelis, reflecting Iran's non-recognition of Israel's existence.

27. At a 1976 chess tournament in Amsterdam, Soviet grandmaster Viktor Korchnoi astutely inquired of an English competitor the spelling of "political asylum." He then promptly sought refuge, heading directly to a police station to declare his wish to defect.

28. Mathematically, the number of potential chess games surpasses the quantity of atoms in the observable universe.

29. In 1996, chess prodigy Bobby Fischer introduced a variant emphasizing creativity over rote memorization by randomizing the starting positions of the home row pieces.

30. Despite his controversial legacy, computer algorithms have hailed Bobby Fischer as the greatest chess player in history. Years after his retirement, Bobby played a grandmaster at the height of his career. He said Bobby appeared bored and effortlessly beat him 17 times in a row. "He was too good. There was no use in playing him."

Following his devastating 6-0 defeat to Bobby Fischer in the 1971 World Chess Championship Candidates quarterfinals, Russian chess Grandmaster Mark Taimanov faced severe repercussions. His salary was revoked, he was prohibited from leaving the country, and he endured censorship in the press as the Russian government grappled with profound embarrassment.

32. In 1783, grandmaster Philidor achieved a remarkable feat by playing and winning three simultaneous chess games while blindfolded. Witnessing this extraordinary accomplishment, individuals signed affidavits due to doubts that future generations would believe such an astonishing display of skill was possible.

33. In medieval chess games, pawns promoted to queens were designated as "advisors" to avoid the implications of the king having multiple queens or infidelity.

34. International Master Jeremy Silman crafted the chess puzzle for "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," featuring Ron's sacrificial move. Despite his contribution, Silman went uncredited while various others received acknowledgment, ranging from hairdressers to donut delivery personnel.

35. Checkless Chess is a variant where issuing a check is prohibited unless it results in a checkmate.

The Immortal Game refers to a casual match between chess grandmasters during the inaugural international chess tournament intermission. Despite its informal nature, this game remains renowned as one of the most celebrated matches in chess history.

37. In 1959, a Soviet scientist infamously murdered his friend with an axe following a chess game at an Antarctic base. In response, Soviet authorities implemented a ban on chess within their Antarctic installations.

38. Chessboxing combines alternating rounds of chess and boxing, with each segment lasting three minutes, continuing until one competitor achieves victory by knockout in either chess or boxing.

39. The Barnes Opening is widely regarded as one of the least advantageous chess openings, offering minimal strategic benefits and numerous drawbacks.

40. Beirut Chess introduces a variant where players clandestinely equip one of their pieces with a "bomb," capable of detonating at any moment and eliminating all nearby pieces.

Dunsany's, or Horde chess, presents a variant where one player's pieces adhere to the traditional setup of chess while the opposing player commands a horde of 32 pawns.

42. Bobby Fischer's creation, Chess960, keeps the traditional chess board and pieces but introduces a randomization of the home row. This innovation discourages reliance on memorized strategies, fostering creativity in gameplay.

43. A chess variant named Kriegspiel offers a unique chess experience where each player can only view their own pieces, relying on an umpire to declare the legality of their moves. Players persistently attempt moves until they receive a verdict of "legal."

44. Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen never played chess in their lives until the movie X-Men required them to do so. A chess master came in to teach them.

45. In Armenia, chess is an integral part of the educational curriculum, with children as young as six receiving training in the game.

Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass" features a narrative structure mirroring a game of chess, with Alice's movements throughout the story reflecting playable chess sequences.

47. The infamous "Bongcloud Attack" is widely recognized as one of the worst openings in chess history, often employed by grandmasters as a lighthearted joke or a display of dominance.

48. Chess prodigy Jose Raul Capablanca's remarkable journey into the world of chess began at the age of four, when he observed his father playing against a friend. After just two games, Capablanca grasped the fundamentals of the game, challenging his father to a third match and emerging victorious.

49. Benjamin Franklin exhibited his unconventional approach to chess during a game in France, seizing his opponent's king after she inadvertently placed it in check. When she said, "Ah, we don't take kings so," Franklin replied, "We do in America."

50. Charles Babbage lost 2 games of Chess at the hands of the Mechanical Turk, an automaton concealing a human chess player. He knew it was a hoax but it inspired his work on the Difference Engine and then the Analytical Engine, the world's first computer.