Illusory checkmates: why chess is not a game

Abstract

In this essay I argue that chess is not a game. ?I begin by arguing the narrower point that chess is not a game in the sense of 'game' developed by Bernard Suits. ?Chess is not a Suitsian game because chess lacks a prelusory goal. ?Chess lacks a prelusory goal, which is a goal that is identifiable before a game is played, because no checkmate position is knowably achievable before chess is played. ?Checkmate is a postlusory discovery about chess, not a prelusory goal of chess, and chess consequently has more in common with mathematics and physics than it has in common with darts, sprints, and lawn bowling. Various objections are answered.