The Internet is full of sites devoted to the ever-growing chess community. As long as the public has used the Internet, there has been some form of online chess – even as basic as people sending emails back and forth to describe how to move a pieces on a board at someone’s home. Now, though, online chess has grown a lot since those days. Here is a guide to the wide world of online chess, of the variety of sites available to any skill level or interest:
The most popular chess sites online are, of course, the actual game sites. These sites feature thousands of games in process, along with tournaments and teams. Online chess sites can range from being really casual to very involved and lengthy.
A good beginner site is instantchess.com. This site doesn’t require any registration or specific skill level. All you do is enter some kind of screen name on the line given and then you start a chess game. The site will randomly match you up with someone else – this opponent could be a beginner like you or a chess enthusiast who has been playing for years. The site, though, lets you play easily and with no commitment, which is good for those new to online chess – it lets them get a feel of what it’s like and if they’re interested.
The next step up is a site like chessmaniac.com. This site has a lot to offer online chess players. The site features thousands of games in progress, tournaments, clubs, and teams. The site offers a community of chess players to any level of player, but unlike a site like instantchess.com, it requires some registration and commitment, along with ranking. The site is also different than instantchess.com because it caters to the chess enthusiast more by posting articles about strategy and chess related stories. It also has links to reading lists and other useful sites. This is a good stepping stone between a beginner site and an even more serious, in-depth site like chessclub.com.
Chessclub.com is the site for the Internet Chess Club. This site requires a paid membership to use its services and participate in any chess matches, clubs, teams or tournaments. This is a site only for those who are really serious about chess – not just playing it, but also watching it, reading about it, studying it, and participating in various events. The memberships range anywhere from $34.95 for a six-month one to $149.95 for three years. However, the membership comes with a lot of benefits, including unlimited play, a library of downloadable games, private lessons from world-class players, and many others. This site caters to every need of the serious chess player.
Game sites aren’t the only thing out there for chess enthusiasts. Blogs are another resource available to the online chess community. These blogs are great places to learn new strategies, find clubs, link to other chess sites, and connect with other people who enjoy chess. Blogs are a great way to build a community of fellow chess players, allowing people to learn and communicate for both fun and improvement. A simple Google search with the words “chess blog ” will result in thousands of different blogs, each with something useful or just an interesting insight to offer.
Whether you’re an avid chess player or just a beginner that wants to try it out to keep your mind sharp, there are plenty of places online that you can learn from and enjoy. Chess games are no longer just found in coffee shops, libraries, and parks; chess clubs are not just a high school thing. The Internet gives people around the world a chance to connect and enjoy this centuries old, ever-challenging game.
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