Wikipedia article on chess, under the "Origins of Chess" heading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess#Origins_of_chess

The word 'chess' is a singular, uncountable noun. Units of chess are expressed as games of chess tournaments of chess.

Chess matches; chess boards; versions of chess.

Games were popular during the depression as well. Chess was very popular in cities, and let us not forget monopoly which had its origins around that period.

Yasser Seirawan has written:

'Winning chess strategies' -- subject(s): Chess

'Winning Chess Endings (Winning Chess)'

'Winning chess brilliancies' -- subject(s): Collections of games, Chess

'Competitive chess for kids' -- subject(s): Chess for children, Juvenile literature, Chess

'Playing Winning Chess'