Chess through an Anthropological Lens: A Comparison of <i>Counterplay</i> and <i>The King’s Gambit: A Son, a Father, and the World’s Most Dangerous Game</i>

Chess is a popular game with very unique culture that may not always be recognized or appreciated. There have been few thorough anthropological assessments of chess in the literature. Two books literature, Counterplay, by Robert Desjarlais, and The King’s Gambit: A Son, Father, World’s Most Dangerous Game (The Gambit), Paul Hoffman, address from an viewpoint—specifically through ethnographic lens as both authors fully immerse themselves culture. While Counterplay written who anthropology professor, Gambit biography author player. Hoffman writes book similar viewpoint Desjarlais though he anthropologist. These two works thoroughly culture, exploring themes such competition, psychology, obsession, rage, physical stress, aesthetics chess. share only similarities but also number viewpoints. Both significantly contribute to study modern-day its issues.