These fun chess socks are perfect for any chess lover. Makes the perfect gift for Christmas, birthday or anytime.
 
Let everyone know how much you like chess without saying a word. Sharing your interests through what you wear breaks down a barrier. Without speaking, you can tell others a little bit about yourself and share your personality. You'll find people either share your interest or can appreciate your great taste in socks.
 
The base color is white with full color print and black on the toes and heel.
 
• 200 needle knit premium socks
• Cushioned bottoms
• Material: 73% polyester, 18% nylon, 3% cotton, 6% spandex
• One size: comfortably fits women's size 5 US up to men's size 12 US
 
Interesting facts about chess:
 
• The number of possible unique chess games is much greater than the number of electrons in the universe. The number of electrons is estimated to be about 10^79, while the number of unique chess games is 10^120.
 
• The longest chess game theoretically possible is 5,949 moves.
 
• As late as 1561, Castling was two moves. You had to play R-KB1 on one move and K-KN1 on the next move.
 
• The word “Checkmate” in Chess comes from the Persian phrase “Shah Mat,” which means “the King is dead.”
 
• The longest official chess game lasted 269 moves (I. Nikolic – Arsovic, Belgrade 1989) and ended in a draw.
 
• From the starting position, there are eight different ways to Mate in two moves and 355 different ways to Mate in three moves.
 
• The new Pawn move, advancing two squares on its first move instead of one, was first introduced in Spain in 1280.
 
• Dr. Emanuel Lasker from Germany retained the World Chess Champion title for more time than any other player ever: 26 years and 337 days.
 
• In 1985, the Soviet player Garry Kasparov became the youngest World Chess Champion ever at the age of 22 years and 210 days.
 
• The first Chessboard with alternating light and dark squares appears in Europe in 1090.
 
• The first mechanical Chess Clock was invented by Thomas Wilson in 1883. Prior to that, Sandglasses were used. Sandglasses were first used in London in 1862. The present day push-button Clock was first perfected by Veenhoff in 1900.
 
• A Computer Program named Deep Thoughtbeat an International Grand Master for the first time in November 1988 in Long Beach, California.
 
• Chess is often cited by psychologists as an effective way to improve memory function. Also allowing the mind to solve complex problems and work through ideas, it is no wonder that chess is recommended in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Some contend that it can increase one’s intelligence, though that is a more complex topic. The effects of chess on young individuals had led to chess being introduced in school districts and various countries. It has been shown to improve children’s grades and other positive effects as well.
 
• The second book ever printed in the English language was about chess!
 
• The oldest surviving complete chess sets were found on the Isle of Lewis, in northern Scotland, and dates to the 12th century. They were probably made in Iceland or Norway, and their appearance was used in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for the wizard chess pieces.
 
• About 600,000,000 (Six hundred million) people know how to play chess worldwide!
 
• In many languages, the Pawn is a foot soldier, but in German and Spanish, it’s a peasant or farmer, instead!
 
• The reason why traditional chess pieces don’t look like actual soldiers, bishops, and kings is because before the game reached Europe, it passed through the Islamic world. Islam forbids making statues of animals or people, so chess pieces became vague-looking. When the game spread to Christian Europe, the pieces didn’t change much.
 
• Initially, the Queen could only move one square at a time, diagonally. Later, she could move two squares at a time, diagonally. It wasn’t until Reconquista Spain, with its powerful queen Isabella, that the Queen became the strongest piece on the board.