Chess was invented more than 1,500 years ago, and is played inevery country in the world. Stephen Moss sets out to master itsmysteries, and unlock the secret of its enduring appeal. What, he asks,is the essence of chess? And what will it reveal about his own characteralong the way? In a witty, accessible style that will delight newcomersand irritate purists, Moss imagines the world as a board and marchesacross it, offering a mordant report on the world of chess in 64chapters - 64 of course being the number of squares on the chessboard.He alternates between "black" chapters - where he plays, largelyuncomprehendingly, in tournaments - and "white" chapters, where he seeksadvice from the current crop of grandmasters and delves into the livesof great players of the past. It is both a history of the game and akind of "Zen and the Art of Chess"; a practical guide and a self-helpbook: Moss's quest to understand chess and become a better player isreally an attempt to escape a lifetime of dilettantism. He wants tobecome an expert at one thing. What will be the consequences when herealises he is doomed to fail? Moss travels to Russia and the US -hotbeds of chess throughout the 20th century; meets people who knewBobby Fischer when he was growing up and tries to unravel the enigma ofthat tortured genius who died in 2008 at the inevitable age of 64; meetsGarry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen, world champions past and present;and keeps bumping into Armenian superstar Levon Aronian in the gents attournaments. He becomes champion of Surrey, wins tournaments in Chesterand Bury St Edmunds, and holds his own at the famous event in the Dutchseaside resort of Wijk aan Zee (until a last-round meltdown), but toooften he is beaten by precocious 10-year-olds and finds it hard toresist the urge to punch them. He looks for spiritual fulfilment in thegame, but mostly finds mental torture.