For years I have pondered on how many different concepts from the Art of War could be applied to the game of chess. Can the greatest book on strategy, one written over two millennia ago, be applied to the ancient game of chess? If so then how? To address this persistent thought I have chosen some questions to begin the discussion in earnest. Drawing on words and thoughts of some of the greatest chess players, we can delve into this fascinating debate.

The game of chess comes down to making decisions, lots of them, whether you are a beginner or a world champion. The Art of War can be seen as a work that lays out a frame work for making decisions, good decisions, and winning decisions. So the natural relationship is laid bare. Both the game and the book can be used to take works given birth by the endeavour of war and have been applied to all parts of life, even those utterly unrelated to war. The concepts of bringing strengths against weakness, deception, psychology and so much more can be found in both, and both the game and book have been used for centuries to teach, refine and apply the benefits to those who will never see a real battlefield. They are used to educate both the reader and the player to understand dynamics, firstly in the mind and their application in real life.