chessboard

Sixty-four square arena

A chessboard is a square board divided into 64 alternating light and dark squares, arranged in an 8×8 grid.

It's the playing surface for chess and checkers.

Figuratively, a chessboard suggests strategic maneuvering: The Middle East became a chessboard for Cold War powers.

grid

squares

Four-sided equal figures

64 · 8x8 · coordinates · a1 · h8 · dark squares · center · corners · edges · kingside

gameplay

opening

Gap or start

en passant · check · stalemate · zugzwang · pin · skewer · fork · sacrifice · gambit · fianchetto

competition

tournament

Multi-round competitive event

blitz · rapid · classical · rating · grandmaster · arbiter · adjournment · adjudication · notation · scoresheet

strategy

planning

Arranging for future events

positioning · maneuvering · outpost · central control

pieces

pawns

Lowest-ranked chess pieces

queens · kings · starting position · arrangement · black pieces · Staunton · felted

tactics

mate

Partner or companion

trap · deflection · decoy · overloading · interference

Categories
Opposites
game surface structure

chessboardblank slate

Unmarked starting point

open field · playing field · sand table

visual pattern

chessboardsolid color

Single unbroken hue

random pattern · blank canvas · tie-dye · gradient · camouflage

game type association

chessboardroulette wheel

Numbered spinning betting device

slot machine · poker table · craps table · pinball machine · dartboard

Phrases
Family

chessboards

Familiarity
Top 50,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G