| Chess is one of the most popular board games in the | | | | but the name of the game itself became 'Shatranj'. |
| world today. It involves two players, and requires | | | | When the game was introduced to Europe, chess |
| strategizing and tactical planning. The game of chess is | | | | terms were replaced by English words; the 'Shah' |
| not a modern invention, and there is a good deal of | | | | became 'King', the 'Begum' became 'Queen', for |
| controversy among chess historians regarding the true | | | | example. |
| time and place of the emergence of chess. Many | | | | The entrance of chess into Europe was marked by |
| countries claim to have invented it. However, most | | | | the enhancement of the powers of the 'Queen' piece. |
| historians trace its origins back to northern India or | | | | Early on in European chess, the pieces had very limited |
| Afghanistan sometime around 600 AD. The most | | | | movement. The Bishop could move forward only by |
| common theory is that the form of chess we play | | | | jumping two steps diagonally, and the Queen could |
| today evolved from a game called 'Chaturanga', which | | | | move only one step forward diagonally. Pawns could |
| was played in ancient India. Since the Arabic, Persian, | | | | move just one space at a time during the first move |
| Greek, Portuguese and Spanish words for chess are | | | | instead of the customary two steps on the first move |
| derived from Chaturanga, it is the most accepted view | | | | that we see today. There was no castling, either. By |
| that chess originated in India. However, another theory | | | | the late 15th century, the modern rules for the basic |
| claims that chess evolved from a game of 'Xiangqi' | | | | moves of the pieces had been added--Pawns could |
| that existed in China in the 2nd century BC. | | | | move two squares on their first move, Bishops could |
| Regardless of its origin, chess eventually spread all | | | | move as they do nowadays, and the Queen became |
| over the world. In so doing, it took on regional terms. | | | | the most powerful of all the pieces. The current rules |
| When it entered the Islamic countries, the names of | | | | were finalized in the early 19th century. |
| the chess pieces were retained in their Persian form, | | | | |