It’s worth knowing whether you’re just playing a game you like — or maybe also improving your brain chemistry.

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 ...

Alexandra Botez was sitting in her apartment on a recent Friday in front of three computer monitors, a webcam and a microphone — and losing at chess. "This is not looking good, but this guy is not ...