Xadrez, known as chess in English, is a strategic board game played between two players. It is played on an 8x8 grid, consisting of 64 squares, with each player starting with 16 pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, and two bishops. The objective is to checkmate the opponent's king, meaning the king is in a position to be captured and cannot escape. The game has a rich history, dating back over a thousand years, with origins believed to be in India. Xadrez is not only a popular pastime but also a competitive sport, with international tournaments and a governing body known as FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs).