By Muriel Noel
Many people think chess is an ancient game. If you took a survey on the street, many might say that it comes from BC times rather than AD. They would all be surprised to know that the version of it we play today was not in its current form until the nineteenth century. Where did chess originate is an interesting question.
Even though there are some who claim that the game was originally played in China, most historians today agree that the game we currently play actually traces back to India in the 6th century. That is AD, not BC. The game was very similar to our modern day version, but used fewer pieces. They were chariots, elephants, infantry, and cavalry. Those pieces corresponded to what we now know as rooks, bishops, pawns, and knights.
The game moved by Islamic trade and conquest over the next several centuries. By the fifteenth century, it had arrived in Europe. It was modified along the way, and the name had morphed by way of the word 'shah', meaning 'king'. This became our words for 'check' and the name of the game itself.
The queen was not given her position of greatest power until about 500 years ago. When this shift took place, some people started called it 'Mad Queen Chess'. There had been a piece called a vizier which had stood next to the king. She replaced it.
As late as the 19th century, final adjustments to game play were made. For instance, rules regarding stalemate were not finalized until then. At that time, aspects of the game were standardized and made more universal to allow gaming between cities. Books, journals, and tournaments all started to appear at this time.
Therefore, while it is true that the game has been played for many centuries, it has not been quite like it is today for
The game moved by Islamic trade and conquest over the next several centuries. By the fifteenth century, it had arrived in Europe. It was modified along the way, and the name had morphed by way of the word 'shah', meaning 'king'. This became our words for 'check' and the name of the game itself.
The queen was not given her position of greatest power until about 500 years ago. When this shift took place, some people started called it 'Mad Queen Chess'. There had been a piece called a vizier which had stood next to the king. She replaced it.
As late as the 19th century, final adjustments to game play were made. For instance, rules regarding stalemate were not finalized until then. At that time, aspects of the game were standardized and made more universal to allow gaming between cities. Books, journals, and tournaments all started to appear at this time.
Therefore, while it is true that the game has been played for many centuries, it has not been quite like it is today for
As late as the 19th century, final adjustments to game play were made. For instance, rules regarding stalemate were not finalized until then. At that time, aspects of the game were standardized and made more universal to allow gaming between cities. Books, journals, and tournaments all started to appear at this time.
Therefore, while it is true that the game has been played for many centuries, it has not been quite like it is today for long. People from all backgrounds have enjoyed its nuances for a long time. In the last 50 years, even computers have played and won it. But when you ask where did chess originate, you find that our modern form has only been enjoyed for around 150 years or so.
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