Browse e-KNOWBASE

Category FAQs Search : Chess

Question: A brief history of chess: From romantic era to the digitalized era.

Answer: Until the end of the 15th century, chess changed numerous times, survived sanctions by the Christian Church as well as complete prohibitions from time to time.

Right up until the 1880’s, the game developed into the shape of the modern chess game. This period is known as “the romantic era of chess”.

Let’s take a closer look at one of the most famous games from the romantic era of chess, the “Immortal Game” between Anderssen and Kieseritky.



Chess slowly gained its competitive character and concrete rules, growing in popularity among the people. Strategical planning or long study of the theory were pretty subordinate topics. In the foreground, there were issues like quick tactical motifs and the reliance on intuitive moves.

The first chess tournaments started to take place and even the first official World Championship was hosted in 1886 where Wilhelm Steinitz became the first official World Chess Champion.

Until the middle of the 20th century, there were tendencies towards romantic chess play, when players relied on tactics and extremely dynamic play. However, the 20th century revolutionized chess with the invention of databases, chess engines and several methods for comfortable and efficient strategical preparations.

Chess websites and online games were invented so that the romantic era was finalized and a new technological, digitalized era began.

(Source: iChess.net, 13 Jan 2021)

Source Link: https://www.ichess.net/blog/history-of-chess/