The Oxford Companion to Chess

The Oxford Companion to Chess is a reference work by David Hooper and Ken Whyld, published by Oxford University Press. Its first edition appeared in 1984, followed by later editions. It is not arranged as a course to be read from beginning to end, but as an encyclopedia of entries that can be consulted individually.

Its scope includes chess history, biographies, tournaments, championships, openings, playing terms, problem composition, variants, and the game's presence in literature, art, film, and computing. This breadth lets a reader investigate both a rule or name and the wider culture surrounding the board.

An encyclopedia summarizes and connects information, but it does not always replace the newest specialist source. A historical entry may orient the reader toward an event, while current rules should be checked in the latest official regulations and modern results in authoritative archives.

The book also documents computer chess, helping place later events such as the World Computer Chess Championship in context. Its chief strength is providing a broad map of chess vocabulary and history rather than settling every technical question in full depth.