Online Chess

Stratagem Wired: Online Chess

Online chess, the latest incarnation of the age old game of stratagem and wit, (outside of the strange multi-decked Star Trek version) is perhaps the most popular medium for chess players--masters and newbies alike. In fact, as one of the oldest board games still in use, it's amazing to see that it's survived well into the information era.
 
If you're bored and looking for an online chess game, and you're interested in tournaments, an overall ranking system, and a way to meet fellow enthusiasts, Yahoo!'s online chess rooms are probably the best out there. The kibitz feature allows new players to watch and learn from the masters, and lets the masters study their opponent before they go in for the kill. The graphics are simplistic, but online chess doesn't really need full 3-d models and animations.
 
If you're just up for a friendly match against a close pal, MSN Messenger's latest version comes with an easy to access chess online. Simply navigate to "Actions," "Play a Game," And then select Chess Club. The private message box expands to show a stylistic chess board, where you can both play as horrible a game as you like without anyone ever knowing.
 
Of course, if you're an absolute chess fanatic, you might want to pick up the latest copy of Chess Master. The game features a chess online module, as well as a brilliant tutorial that can teach you how to play against the Lords and Ladies of chess without losing in five moves. It also features amazing graphics and visuals, the ability to ramp your opponents difficulty up (or down) and is, perhaps, the best way to learn the game.
 
There are dozens of other online chess games out there, many of them attached to communities of enthusiasts--these, however, are the powerhouses of their genre, and are impossible to go wrong with.