Chess Bitch: Women in the Ultimate Intellectual Sport

by Jennifer Shahade

In the game of chess, where being female has been long considered a major disadvantage, the strongest piece, - the Queen - is often referred to as "bitch". Chess Bitch, written by the 2004 U.S. Women's Chess Champion, is an eye-opening account of how today's young female chessplayers are successfully knocking down the doors to this traditionally male game, infiltrating the male-owned sporting subculture of international chess, and giving the phrase "play like a girl" a whole new meaning.

"The fascinating true stories of the lives of champion chessplayers. All women should take up the challenge and pick up a board! Chess anyone?"
-Yoko Ono