|
Chess Origin and History |
Theories have speculated that the game of chess can be traced all the way back to the 6th Century from what is now known northern India or Afghanistan. Other theories suggest that chess can be traced to around 1000AD to a 4-player version of chess called Shaturanga. Many also believe that the game originated in China. No matter where Chess originated from, we are certain that history has shaped the game we play and love today.
As chess spread and became more widely popular, variations of chess begun to appear. The first variation of chess was invented by a 6th Century Indian philosopher called Shaturanga or Chaturango. The game incorporated four armies with each one under control of a king, two allies against two enemies, and 4 corps – Infantry (pawns), Cavalry (knight), Elephants (rook), and Boatmen (piece that can move 2 squares diagonally but could jump over pieces in its way) for each army. The game began with the infantry (pawns) in the first row and the four main pieces behind them in the second row. Unlike modern chess, however, a dice was used to decide which piece was next to move.
A similar variation to the chess we know today is called Shatranj. This game was introduced in India and passed down to Persia, Byzantine, Greece, Mecca, and Medina. Shatranj used a board which is virtually identical to the pattern of the chess board we see today. This game included a King, Prime Minister (moved one square diagonally), Elephant (move two squares diagonally but could jump over pieces that were intervening), War Horse (Knight), Ruhk (Rook), Pawn (moved like a pawn and would be promoted to a prime minister if it reached the other side of the board).
As chess spread to Asia, other variations that shaped the chess we know today arose. Xiang Qi or Chinese Chess used an un-checkered board consisting of small disks with Chinese characters as pieces. This game is placed with the pieces on the edges of the square also known as on the points rather than with the pieces inside the square. An area in the middle dividing the two sides was called the river. This game continues to be widely popular all around the world.
Shogi (The Generals Game) or Japanese Chess uses an un-checkered board with flat small disks that have Japanese symbols on them. The rules of this game would allow pieces back on to the board once they were captured. This would ultimately make draws quite unusual resulting in a winner and a loser in each game. Some of the pieces that would enter enemy territory would have the ability to be promoted. However, unlike modern chess where the pawn is able to be promoted to any piece except the king, here each specific piece would have a specific promotion. For instance, a Flying Chariot which moves like a modern Rook can be promoted to a Dragon King which moves like a King in modern chess or a Flying Chariot (Rook). Another example is the piece Angle. An Angle which moves like the modern-day Bishop can be promoted to move like a Dragon Horse which can move like the modern-day King or like an Angle.
Sittuyin or Burmese chess is an adaptation of the widely popular Indian chess called Shatruanga and another factor in what shaped the chess we play today. The word Sittuyin can be translated as representation of the army or war. This game is widely influenced by Hindu culture and each piece represents something different. For example, the Chariot (Yattah) represents a boat carrying a shrine over wheels (Rook) and the equivalent of pawns called Rama in this game symbolize the monkeys that defeated the demons. This game is played on an un-checkered 64-square board with long diagonals marked in the shape of an X. Unfortunately, Burmese chess is not that common anymore duo to the overshadowing of the Western Chess.
Janggi is a variant of chess played in Korea. This chess derives from Chinese Chess Xiang-Qi. Similar to Chinese chess, the board is 9 x 10 and rectangular in shape with intersections. It does not feature the river in the middle of the board however. Octagonal flat shaped disks of three sizes are used for the pieces. The largest piece is the General (King), following the Chariots (Rooks), Canons, horses (Knights), and Elephants who are medium in size, and the Guards and Soldiers who are the smallest. The pieces have a symbol on them portraying the function of each piece. Unlike Western Chess, these pieces are red and green or blue with the green or blue pieces moving first. Some pieces like in Chinese Chess, can move diagonally. The most significant difference when playing Janggi, is that players can pass their turn if they choose to.
Makruk or Thai Chess is another variation of the Chess we know today. This game is the most similar to modern day chess. The board is an un-checkered 8 x 8 square board. The pieces are shaped resembling the Stupas or Thai temples. Like modern chess, it has two rows of pieces. The pieces are set up on the board similar to modern day chess with two modifications; the white King and white Queen are reversed and the pawns are placed in row number 3. This game continues to be widely played in Thailand and Cambodia to this day.
The orthodox FIDE chess that we know today was introduced roughly at the end of the 15th century. It quickly became popular all around Europe. As popularity grew, the first international chess tournament was organized in 1851 called the London Tourney. This tournament was won by Adolf Anderssen from Germany. In 1858, an American born player Paul Charles Morphy travelled to Europe and managed to become the best player at a youthful age. Paul Morphy never became a world chess champion do to the current English champion at the time Staunton refusal to play. The first official chess championship was played in 1866 in London and was won by Steinitz, a Bohemian (Czechoslovakian) Jew, who then became the world's first OFFICIAL chess champion, holding this title until 1894. Today, many people consider Capablanca, Morphy, and Fischer as the top 3 chess players who ever lived. Cuban held the World Chess Championship title from 1921-1927. Fischer was the first native-born U.S. citizen to hold the tile of World Chess Champion at just the age of 14. Currently, Magnus Carlsen of Norway is the world champion for the last 4 years.
Chess continues to grow in popularity throughout the world. With three time-control variations (Blitz, Rapid, and Classical), a chess player is never bored. As time progresses and the strength of the computer is evolving, the chess game is evolving with it. The future holds wonders for the game of chess. Come discover what it is all about here at Powerfulchess.com!
As chess spread and became more widely popular, variations of chess begun to appear. The first variation of chess was invented by a 6th Century Indian philosopher called Shaturanga or Chaturango. The game incorporated four armies with each one under control of a king, two allies against two enemies, and 4 corps – Infantry (pawns), Cavalry (knight), Elephants (rook), and Boatmen (piece that can move 2 squares diagonally but could jump over pieces in its way) for each army. The game began with the infantry (pawns) in the first row and the four main pieces behind them in the second row. Unlike modern chess, however, a dice was used to decide which piece was next to move.
A similar variation to the chess we know today is called Shatranj. This game was introduced in India and passed down to Persia, Byzantine, Greece, Mecca, and Medina. Shatranj used a board which is virtually identical to the pattern of the chess board we see today. This game included a King, Prime Minister (moved one square diagonally), Elephant (move two squares diagonally but could jump over pieces that were intervening), War Horse (Knight), Ruhk (Rook), Pawn (moved like a pawn and would be promoted to a prime minister if it reached the other side of the board).
As chess spread to Asia, other variations that shaped the chess we know today arose. Xiang Qi or Chinese Chess used an un-checkered board consisting of small disks with Chinese characters as pieces. This game is placed with the pieces on the edges of the square also known as on the points rather than with the pieces inside the square. An area in the middle dividing the two sides was called the river. This game continues to be widely popular all around the world.
Shogi (The Generals Game) or Japanese Chess uses an un-checkered board with flat small disks that have Japanese symbols on them. The rules of this game would allow pieces back on to the board once they were captured. This would ultimately make draws quite unusual resulting in a winner and a loser in each game. Some of the pieces that would enter enemy territory would have the ability to be promoted. However, unlike modern chess where the pawn is able to be promoted to any piece except the king, here each specific piece would have a specific promotion. For instance, a Flying Chariot which moves like a modern Rook can be promoted to a Dragon King which moves like a King in modern chess or a Flying Chariot (Rook). Another example is the piece Angle. An Angle which moves like the modern-day Bishop can be promoted to move like a Dragon Horse which can move like the modern-day King or like an Angle.
Sittuyin or Burmese chess is an adaptation of the widely popular Indian chess called Shatruanga and another factor in what shaped the chess we play today. The word Sittuyin can be translated as representation of the army or war. This game is widely influenced by Hindu culture and each piece represents something different. For example, the Chariot (Yattah) represents a boat carrying a shrine over wheels (Rook) and the equivalent of pawns called Rama in this game symbolize the monkeys that defeated the demons. This game is played on an un-checkered 64-square board with long diagonals marked in the shape of an X. Unfortunately, Burmese chess is not that common anymore duo to the overshadowing of the Western Chess.
Janggi is a variant of chess played in Korea. This chess derives from Chinese Chess Xiang-Qi. Similar to Chinese chess, the board is 9 x 10 and rectangular in shape with intersections. It does not feature the river in the middle of the board however. Octagonal flat shaped disks of three sizes are used for the pieces. The largest piece is the General (King), following the Chariots (Rooks), Canons, horses (Knights), and Elephants who are medium in size, and the Guards and Soldiers who are the smallest. The pieces have a symbol on them portraying the function of each piece. Unlike Western Chess, these pieces are red and green or blue with the green or blue pieces moving first. Some pieces like in Chinese Chess, can move diagonally. The most significant difference when playing Janggi, is that players can pass their turn if they choose to.
Makruk or Thai Chess is another variation of the Chess we know today. This game is the most similar to modern day chess. The board is an un-checkered 8 x 8 square board. The pieces are shaped resembling the Stupas or Thai temples. Like modern chess, it has two rows of pieces. The pieces are set up on the board similar to modern day chess with two modifications; the white King and white Queen are reversed and the pawns are placed in row number 3. This game continues to be widely played in Thailand and Cambodia to this day.
The orthodox FIDE chess that we know today was introduced roughly at the end of the 15th century. It quickly became popular all around Europe. As popularity grew, the first international chess tournament was organized in 1851 called the London Tourney. This tournament was won by Adolf Anderssen from Germany. In 1858, an American born player Paul Charles Morphy travelled to Europe and managed to become the best player at a youthful age. Paul Morphy never became a world chess champion do to the current English champion at the time Staunton refusal to play. The first official chess championship was played in 1866 in London and was won by Steinitz, a Bohemian (Czechoslovakian) Jew, who then became the world's first OFFICIAL chess champion, holding this title until 1894. Today, many people consider Capablanca, Morphy, and Fischer as the top 3 chess players who ever lived. Cuban held the World Chess Championship title from 1921-1927. Fischer was the first native-born U.S. citizen to hold the tile of World Chess Champion at just the age of 14. Currently, Magnus Carlsen of Norway is the world champion for the last 4 years.
Chess continues to grow in popularity throughout the world. With three time-control variations (Blitz, Rapid, and Classical), a chess player is never bored. As time progresses and the strength of the computer is evolving, the chess game is evolving with it. The future holds wonders for the game of chess. Come discover what it is all about here at Powerfulchess.com!
