Origins of Chess: The Chess Sets Have Remained the Same
Ever wonder where your favorite chess set and board came from? History tells us that the game probably originated some time in the 7th century. The place? Northern India. The game? Chaturanga. Though the name may sound completely foreign, the game itself is quite familiar.
A military-strategy board game, chaturanga (like chess) pitted two players against one another in a simulated “battle.” Each side had an army (of advisers, a cavalry, foot soldiers, etc.) and play was done on a square board. Like a chess board, it was comprised of eight-by-eight rows of squares.
Though other theories explaining the origin of chess exist, the general consensus is that chaturanga was the likely prototype for 15th-century European chess. Despite some changes to rules, composition, and strategy, the Renaissance game possessed some striking similarities to the Indian game: namely a 64-square board, symbolic pieces (comprising a chess set), a military theme, and an overall goal to protect the king (or rajah).
Its Evolution
How did chaturanga make its way to Europe though? It was likely by way of the Persian Empire. After Persia was conquered by Arabia, the game of shatranj was developed from chaturanga and was enjoyed by both Arabs and Europeans. Also known as Medieval Chess, modern-day chess would evolve from it.
Emerging in c. 1475, this “new” brand of chess saw a handful of changes from its Medieval predecessor, namely the board was opened up to further allow more movement and consequently, more in-depth strategy. Italy was the first country to adopt the game’s new rules, which quickly spread across Western Europe. Soon after, seemingly everyone had a chess board and chess set of their own and since then, the game has remained virtually unchanged. Today, some 605 million people are knowledgeable of chess.
The Necessary Tools
Travel back in time and remarkably, you’ll be able to play a game of chess without problem or confusion. The chess board and chess sets are identical, though those from the Renaissance are perhaps a bit more grand. For today’s game, a chess set remains composed of six different chess pieces – each one corresponding to a piece of chaturanga.
Starting with the king, chess sets have: 1 king (to protect), 1 queen, 2 bishops, 2 knights, 2 rooks, and 8 pawns, for a total of 16 pieces. A chess set comes complete with pieces for two players: one white, the other dark, representing the two “armies.”
If It Ain’t Broke
As noted, modern-day chess has remained fixed since the 15th century on. The chess pieces, rules, and strategies have held firm, enabling masters throughout history and around the globe to perfect the game. Considered a true sport by many, chess is controlled by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) in Paris, France; and players – both hobbyists and grand masters alike – take the game’s rules very seriously.
A game once reserved for rulers, military leaders, and royals, chess has become impressively universal. And, with the advent of the Internet, it’s expanded even further, reaching beyond borders and boundaries previously thought impossible to bridge. Who knew? A game popularized during the Renaissance would prove to be so addictive still to this day.
But it’s the timeless challenge(s) inherent in chess that draws players in and also, underscores the age-old adage: “If ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
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December 23rd, 2008 at 2:47 am
True chess isn’t broke. The rules were pretty much as they are today back in the very late 1400’s but even up until the 1800’s there were still some areas of europe that castled the old way. That is to say that when you castled, you didn’t need to move the king only two squares. You could actually move the king as many squares as you wanted. you could castle right into the corner if you wanted. Back in the 1920’s people thought chess was played out because of the huge number of draws in the capablace - alekine match. Some new genius will always come along and set a new standard.