chess是国际象棋，属于棋类，所以前面无定冠词。

play这个动词后面接球类、棋类、牌类等活动的名称时，前面一般不加定冠词，如：

play basketball

play baseball

play football

play soccer

play chess

play cards

play mahjong

但是play这个动词后面接乐器的名称时，乐器名称前面要加定冠词the，如：

play the piano

play the violin

play the cello

play the viola

play the mouth organ

play the drum

play the lute

play the flute.