Things people “know” about chess

Myth Chess was invented in Europe.

Fact Chess first appeared in India in about the 6th century CE, as a game called chaturanga. Britannica: chess By the 10th century it had spread from Asia to the Middle East and Europe. Britannica: chess

Myth Rooks have always been called castles.

Fact Each player has two rooks (once also called castles). They start in the corners: a1 and h1 for White, a8 and h8 for Black. Britannica: chess In Russia the rook was usually shown as a sailing ship until the 20th century. Britannica: chess

Myth Pawns capture the same way they move.

Fact A pawn moves differently from the way it captures: it moves straight ahead but captures diagonally forward. Britannica: chess A pawn captures an opponent’s piece diagonally in front of it, on a file next to its own. FIDE Laws of Chess

Myth A pawn on the far side can only become a queen.

Fact A pawn that reaches the far rank must be swapped, in the same move, for a new queen, rook, bishop or knight of the same colour. FIDE Laws of Chess You can choose any of those pieces, even if none of them has been captured. FIDE Laws of Chess

Myth Stalemate is a win for the player with more pieces.

Fact If the player to move has no legal move and their king is not in check, the game is a draw. This is called stalemate. FIDE Laws of Chess

Myth Either side can start.

Fact White makes the first move, then the players take turns. FIDE Laws of Chess

Myth The queen has always been the strongest piece.

Fact After 1475 a rule change turned the old counsellor piece, which could move only one square diagonally, into the modern queen, the most powerful piece on the board. Britannica: chess

Myth You can castle as often as you like.

Fact Castling is allowed only once in a game. Britannica: chess You can no longer castle if your king has already moved, or with a rook that has already moved. FIDE Laws of Chess

Myth It doesn’t matter if you touch a piece and change your mind.

Fact If you touch one of your own pieces meaning to move it, you must move the first piece you touched that can be moved. FIDE Laws of Chess Only the player whose turn it is may straighten a piece on its square, and they must say so first, for example “j’adoube” or “I adjust”. FIDE Laws of Chess

Myth Any chess set will do at a big international event.

Fact Only chess sets based on the Staunton design are allowed in international competition today. Britannica: chess

Myth Everyone agrees how old the Lewis chess pieces are.

Fact Britannica’s main text says the Vikings are believed responsible for 78 walrus-ivory chess pieces found on the Isle of Lewis in 1831, dating from the 11th or 12th century. Britannica: chess Britannica’s picture caption says the Lewis pieces were carved from walrus tusk ivory and whale teeth, are thought to be Norwegian, and date from the late 12th or early 13th century. Britannica: chess