Why is chess not that popular?

Whenever I ask somebody in my class whether they know how to play chess the usual answer is yes.But usually when I play against them it turns out that they know nothing other than how the pieces move.

that kind of notion changes when the chess player looks like Justine Beiber or Taylor Swift or even Megan Fox.

Popular compared to what? I beilive its more active chess-players in the world than boxers or hockey-players in that manner.

So in a list its probably around top 10 sports/games where there is a serious competition.

Why its seldom shown on TV its becouse the format isn't that good for production. 

Firstly I am new to chess myself and wouldn't claim to understand everything about it yet - and from what i've seen in the little time i have had since discovering the game i suspect people can keep learning more and more perpetuo ultra

In response to your point - and this is only my opinion - anyone can draw - pick up a pencil and scribble - a person can understand how the pencil makes a mark and how pressing harder and softer generates tone - but knowing how to draw doesn't make you an artist

In your class they are telling the truth if they understand how the pieces move because they know the basics on how to play chess - but they sound like they lack enough experience to master the game and truly get an understanding of the game's mechanics

Like all things it takes practice to get anywhere and the bitter experience of falling foul of a four move checkmate or duped by the Kings Gambit opening to actually learn how to win

As to why its not that popular - well I cant really voice an opinion on that having never considered the game myself until recently - but if more people are like me (which is a scary thought) they'll be hooked once they try it - and if not maybe board games cant compete with the x box or playstation... (i am starting to sound old now)

Thats my humble 10 "cents" (i'm British maybe I should have said pence) worth anyway

Add Soorat to that line.

Chess becomes more scary then?

Chess doesn't provide enjoyment or recreation like how the other sports like Cricket or Football does. Many of my friends say that if they play chess, they will fall asleep! 

Not with a pretty face honey.

As an old timer, I would think that too many of our kids were raised under the glamor of flash-video images (MTV for example) and quick-reaction video games, and have lost some of the ability to analyze and understand.  Board games are considered "old fashioned" by many people.  Consider also that to become proficient in chess requires months and years of practice and study, something that many are not willing to invest.

I think you wanted to ask "Why everyone knows chess basics but not many go beyond that"?

Simply because chess takes some good grinding to become good at it and only when you get better at it game gets more fun/interesting and this is the level that not many people are willing to go for because it takes intellectual effort to get there while on the other hand if they play World of Warcraft level 1 orc, they can just go pickup mushrooms for some silly quest and still enjoy it.

Because of the fun games like monopoly, checkers etc : )

It takes thinking and time just to get started with chess(why not so many chess players?), and at that point many lose interest and patients because of its complexity. When your students say they know how to play chess because they know how the pieces move they are correct! How good you are has nothing to do with knowing how. And yes, the English girl is pretty and has a good jump on the game  just learning in only two years! Thats why I always say those that learn how to move the pieces  and get addicted at any level, are the elate of the human race! Really!!

and not have an excuse for it...

Most people I know don't even know how the pieces move.  That's why my chess ability has been so stunted until around 3 years ago when I discovered chess.com.  I just never knew many people who knew how to play or anyone who could teach me how to get better at it.

Yeah not one person near me really knows anything more than some rules/piece movement. All they know how to do: drive around, buy food, and use the internet.

if it was on tv it would be hugly popular. before 2004 no one except a few guys who gambled played poker. it was some what popular but after the nhl lockout it became huge. but if you think about it, poker is a lot more boring than anything on the planet, and if you've played poker before then you know that most of what you do is just sit there and wait till good cards come by. depending on how fast the game is, could take 2 hours ):

  Truth , the chess boom was in the 60s.

Requires thought.

It was more intense when political power was determined by average chess strength of a country (although the Soviet Union won all the time, which became less fun over time). 

Chess requires having a brain.  Something very few people highschool age and below have now-a-days.

For starters, I can tell you first hand, with my wife being a teacher, that the vast majority of kids today can't spell.  All they do is text all day, and turn in papers with "text talk" in it.

When they do translation (she teaches highschool Latin), a good half of the students will put down answers like "The boy desk his work"  (uhm, where's the verb???, should be "The boy sat at his desk and did his work"), or another good one is you'll see answers like this:  "The boy said to the girl 'I luv u, c u tomorrow'."

For crying out loud!!!!!!!!!!  If you can't do basic writing, and can't spell, don't understand what a verb is, etc.  How can you ever expect to be able to play chess?

Oh, here's another good one.  An actual question my wife asked the students a year or two ago.  "The boy drives the car", "what's the verb in the sentence?"  Two students shouted answers immediately.  One said "boy", and the other said "car".  SHEESH!!!!!  These kids are freaking 14 and 15 years old.