Pure CSS Chessboard with Only Divs: A Thoughtful Approach

A chessboard is a familiar checkered pattern that has intrigued coders seeking creative expressions in pure CSS. The challenge of creating one using only divs, without resorting to classes or ids, sparked curiosity and exploration within the coding community.

Initial attempts using nth-child() appeared promising but proved to be a dead end, leaving the question of whether it was even possible to fulfill this coding conundrum. However, a clever solution emerged, demonstrating the versatility of CSS selectors.

Rethinking the Chessboard

As the saying goes, "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade." Instead of battling against the limitations of divs, the solution adopts a different approach: redefining the way we perceive the chessboard. A traditional table may not be as visually appealing as a series of divs, but it offers a significant advantage when it comes to CSS styling.

Using Table Selectors

By conceptualizing the chessboard as a table, the code can leverage the power of table selectors in CSS. The following code accomplishes the desired checkered pattern:

table tr:nth-child(odd) td:nth-child(even) {
  background: #000;
}
table tr:nth-child(even) td:nth-child(odd) {
  background: #000;
}

Understanding the Logic

The CSS code targets specific rows and cells within the table based on their position. When a row is odd (indicated by :nth-child(odd)), it applies a black background to every even column (td:nth-child(even)). Similarly, it applies a black background to odd columns in even rows (table tr:nth-child(even) td:nth-child(odd)). This creates the classic checkered pattern of a chessboard.

In Practice

To demonstrate the effectiveness of this solution, a JSFiddle has been created: [http://jsfiddle.net/9kWJZ/](http://jsfiddle.net/9kWJZ/)

This approach not only fulfills the challenge but also provides a cleaner, more accessible representation of a chessboard. It highlights the importance of thinking outside the box and adapting solutions to fit both the problem and the limitations of the tools at hand.