It's common knowledge that there are 64 squares in a chessboard. There are actually 204 squares.
If the smallest square's side measures 1 unit, then there are 8² or 64 1x1 squares. Continuing the math, there are 7² 2x2 squares, 6² 3x3 squares, 5² 4x4 squares, 4² 5x5 squares, 3² 6x6 squares, 2² 7x7 squares, and 1² 8x8 squares. So 8² + 7² + 6² + 5² + 4² + 3² + 2² + 1² = 204. Further explanation is at www.teachingideas.co.uk/maths/chess.htm. (I saw this link after writing the blog)
Think unconventional. 