Pure css Chessboard with div & no classes or ids, is it possible?

Question

I have the following layout

<div id="chess">
    <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>
    <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>
    <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>
    <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>
    <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>
    <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>
    <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>
    <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>
</div>

Is it possible to make a chess board using only css and without changing the above html? That means no classes or ids. I've been searching for ideas an such for 2 days now. I tried with nth-child() and some variations but no success.

I am awfully curious if this can be done. It was given as an assignment to someone.

So please, any ideas?

Answer 1

You don't have to hardcode each :nth-child(). Here's one way to shorten it. Each selector corresponds to a row on the chessboard:

#chess div:nth-child(-2n+8), 
#chess div:nth-child(8) ~ div:nth-child(-2n+15), 
#chess div:nth-child(16) ~ div:nth-child(-2n+24),
#chess div:nth-child(24) ~ div:nth-child(-2n+31),
#chess div:nth-child(32) ~ div:nth-child(-2n+40),
#chess div:nth-child(40) ~ div:nth-child(-2n+47),
#chess div:nth-child(48) ~ div:nth-child(-2n+56),
#chess div:nth-child(56) ~ div:nth-child(-2n+63) {
    background-color: #000;
}

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