Chess Videos:

The Opening Lure

Can a beginner find quick success in chess by studying openings? Many novice level players seem to think so even though more experienced players, chess instructors and even world champions like Jose Raul Capablanca consistently recommend against this. Even when the experts say understanding others aspects of the game like endgames, middlegames and chess tactics should come first many feel they can do better by ignoring this advice. Why does the idea of studying openings seem so compelling that even at the earliest stages of their development as a chess player many feel even those who have gone on to the highest pinnacles of chess achievement must be wrong in this regard? Our new chessay The Opening Lure explores some of the seductive logic behind this notion to see why players may be drawn in by it and what they may really be in for.

Giant Chess Sets!

Chess played on an oversize chess set is spectacle that people are naturally drawn to, whether it's for a chance to play or just to watch. Our Chess Shoppe now gives you the chance to own the magical appeal of a giant chess set for yourself. Built for the outdoors, these massive chess sets are perfect for special events, gardens, schools, recreational facilities, public spaces of all sorts or as a unique source of entertainment in your own backyard. Imagine transforming chess into an outdoor activity you can enjoy at your leisure on a board that covers 81 square feet! If you just want a giant chess board for a single event, we even have a way you can rent one. For more details, please click on the photo above.

Find a Theme

Themed chess sets are the perfect way to express your love of a special interest, be it a

hobby, profession, favorite author or historical era, and you love of chess at the same time.

Our new "Find a Theme" feature is an innovative way to help you find the theme you are

looking for. From Teddy Bears to Dragons, Dogs to Dinosaurs, we have just about everything. (Even Sumo Wrestling)

Learn to Play Chess

Chess is a rich and rewarding game that is enjoyed in every country in the world. You can spend a lifetime with chess and never exhaust all of it's possibilities. To get the most out of the game you'll want to learn how to play chess the right way, and our Learn to Play Chess mini-course is the simple free way to do just that. Even if you've never played before this course will show you everything from the ground up. Let this course be the launching point for all the benefits that come from a lifetime with chess.

Chess, the Brain & Well Being

This exclusive feature article delves into the question of why we should play chess and makes a compelling argument that chess, with it's captivate and engage our whole minds, offers each of us a uniquely excellent antidote to the increasingly dumbed down aspects of the culture surrounding us. It shows how new understandings about how the mind works and a growing body of research into the benefits of playing chess are confirming what Benjamin Franklin observed 230 years ago, that chess is more than idle amusement.