Knight Moves to Remis. The Chess Games of Marcel Duchamp – Art History and Chess Analysis Combined in One Volume

When art meets strategy: Duchamp’s chess games as the hidden key to his creative universe

Knight Moves to Remis. The Chess Games of Marcel Duchamp uncovers a fascinating side of one of the 20th century’s most influential artists: his lifelong passion for chess. More than just a hobby, the game shaped Duchamp’s thinking and artistic strategies.

This book reveals how deeply chess influenced his creative practice and reconstructs his preserved games with scholarly precision.

Highlights of the book include:

- 315 reconstructed games with position diagrams and expert analysis by Michail Chatzidakis
- Unique insights from art historian Astrid Honold, linking Duchamp’s artistic strategies with his chess practice
- A bridge between art and chess, offering both historical context and intellectual challenge for readers

Richly illustrated and intellectually stimulating, this volume is indispensable for art lovers, chess enthusiasts, and anyone intrigued by the intersections of creativity and strategy.

Astrid Honold (*1968, Saarbrücken) is an art historian specializing in artistic practice and the intersections between art and other disciplines. In Knight Moves to Remis. The Chess Games of Marcel Duchamp, she presents the first comprehensive study of Duchamp’s chess activities, combining art-historical research with insights into game strategy.

Marcel Duchamp (1887–1968) is one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, known for revolutionizing modern art with his groundbreaking concepts. Beyond his iconic works, Duchamp was also a passionate chess player. His 315 preserved games reveal how chess profoundly shaped his creative thinking, a connection explored in depth in Knight Moves to Remis.