Last year, my son joined the middle school chess club and began using me, a total novice, as his sparring partner. In chess, a player can choose from one of 20 opening moves, including moving a knight ...

Pandemic boredom and a Netflix mini-series, “The Queen’s Gambit,” added to the game’s sudden popularity. But Chess.com was also plotting its own moves. Danny Rensch, left, chief chess officer of Chess ...