History of the Chess Game

The origins of chess.

There’s some speculation among historians on the roots of the game, but the one version that’s most commonly referred to is the following: chess originated from the ancient Indian game “chaturanga” in the 6th century. This game was similar in configuration, but naturally, the chess pieces, if we can even call them that, had different roles to play and moved differently across the board. It had two main features that unite all the forms of chess previously in existence and differ it from other board games. In all the games from chaturanga to modern chess, the pieces had different powers levels, and the outcome of the game depended on the fate of one pivotal piece on the board. In the case of modern chess - the king.

According to historians, the Silk Road had a lot to do with spreading chaturanga to the west and making it popular among merchants and artisans. When chess reached Persia, it began its transformation into the game we know and love. First of all, that’s where it got the name “shah mat” which in Arabic means “the king is helpless’, or as we say in English, ‘checkmate’. The chess pieces also had a very interesting evolution in the Muslim world. As the depiction of living creatures is prohibited under the laws of Islam, Persian artisans created original and fascinating chess pieces and out of crystals, stones, wood, etc.

From the Arabic world, chess was spread in a few directions simultaneously: Vikings took it north, all the way up to Iceland, and hold credit for creating one of the most famous historic chess sets: The Lewis chessmen. At the same time, it was spread to the northeast, to the Kievan Rus, and to Europe as well. And this is when chess was taken to a whole new level of popularity.

19th-century chess and the change of rules

The moves and values of all pieces on the chess board were finalized by the 15th century. But still, there were a few major changes. First of all, the queen came along as the strongest player on the board. Before that, she was called ‘ferz’, which is still used in several languages and meant ‘adviser’ for the king. So the role of the ‘ferz’ during the game wasn’t significant at all. But when the queen was given its new powers, the game could then be won in fewer moves, which made it even more interesting. In addition to that, ‘pawn promotion’ was introduced. It basically means, that if a pawn can make it to the other end of the board alive, it can become queen.

The changes after that weren’t very prominent until the 19th century came along. By then, chess was popular all over the world, especially in the Russian Empire and in Europe, and in the New world as well. So, naturally, people felt the need to organize tournaments and hold competitions. As soon as chess got into that arena, a few complications became apparent. First of all, it needed standardizing. In the rules and in the appearance as well. That’s when the famous Staunton chess set came along, which is the most famous chess design in history. It’s the most simplistic and familiar depiction of the pieces. Before Staunton, as there was no standard, chess pieces were depicted very differently and players would often decline the invitation to play on an unfamiliar board.

Interesting facts throughout chess history

All the major organized religions banned chess at one point or another. And the most popular folding chess board was created as a direct consequence of that ban and of the disobedience of one priest. The church threatened to excommunicate any member of the clergy caught playing the game, so he created a folding board and kept it in between his books. That way he could continue playing without the fear of being caught. His invention transformed into the travel chess set, one of the most popular chess sets today.

Some unusual chess sets are kept in various museums. And not only in the UK, but around the world as well. As we mentioned before, there was a set found in Persia, carved from crystals. There are remnants of old Indian and Chinese sets and many others. There’re plenty of unique interesting sets around the world, so if you are a fan, don’t pass out on the opportunity to pay a visit.

The commonly used word ‘rookie’, used for people who are new at something, came from the chess piece rook, as he enters the fight late in the game.

Chess has influenced the world greatly, whether we realize it or not. It has accompanied merchants on their long journeys, and kings during their hunts. But nonetheless remained popular among the common people, who cherished it and made sure it lives to see the 21st century. Today we can find hundreds of different chess sets at our local store. Anything from a classic, wooden chess set to an electronic chess set.

The history of chess was full of surprises, changes, rises, and falls. But it remains a part of our culture and teaches our kids the same values of concentration, critical thinking, and strategy, as it did centuries ago.