The Unique History of Chess Pieces
by: linker456
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Word Count: 926
Chess pieces are not only the rank-and-file of a chess game, but they
are also the heart and soul of the chess game experience. Chess pieces with matching or unique
movement qualities completing their intended purpose make for a sharp strategic
ballet with nearly limitless possibilities of progression.
Pierre Mac Orlan, famous 20th century French writer and poet,
once said, “There are more adventures on a chessboard than on all the seas of
the world”. In fact, there are
approximately 1040 possible legal chess piece positions. Now consider an average chess piece position
can possess as much as 218 movement possibilities. The resulting number of game play options
rockets to a figure that only International Grandmasters like Garry Kasparov
and super-computers such as Deep Blue are able to even begin to grasp.
Sounds daunting, but if the history and purpose of chess pieces are
understood, this infinitely varied environment can be experienced and enjoyed
to its fullest.
Modern regulation chess sets have a total of 32 chess pieces divided
evenly between two players. Each
player’s force of chess pieces consists of 2 – Rooks (Castles), 2 – Bishops, 2
– Knights, 1 – King, 1 – Queen and 8 – pawns.
And their particular histories are
as follows:
- King – The
King has always been royalty among chess pieces and if popularly
recognized lineage were to be believed, began as the Raja. Like most royalty, the ‘ King’ has
always been primarily an object of protection rather than one of
attack. Therefore, it has limited but dexterous movement
capabilities.
- Queen – The
Queen is a creature of great change in the world of chess pieces. What began as a Mantri, or counselor,
was as incapable of long-reaching moves as the King, but equally
dexterous. Now that modern chess
has reduced the number of battling armies of chess pieces and players
behind them, from four to two, that familiar 64 square board that
Chaturanga was born on, opened up, allowing the General, as the Queen was
also known, to assume an equally powerful offensive role in modern play.
- Bishop – The
Bishop we know today started with a severely circumscribed movement
capability, although it possess the modern Knight’s ability to leap to its
destination. The Bishop, or Gaja as
it was once known, has lost its vertical capability but its diagonal
travel equals that of the modern Queen.
This movement modification has made the Bishop a decisive tool of
play from middle-game onwards.
- Knight – The
Knight has remained the same in its shape and movement capabilities since
it was first known as an Ashva, or Horse.
The Ashva was intended to act as a mounted division. The Knight’s power lays in its flanking
ability, so it shouldn’t typically lead the charge.
- Rook – Was
initially known as the Chariot and played like a heavy infantry
division. The Rook has powerful
linear movement capabilities, but is susceptible to diagonal attack. Therefore the Ratha, as the Rook was
formally known, was used primarily for defense and/or pinning down
opponent’s chess pieces.
- Pawn – To the
ill informed, the pawn, or foot infantry, was the most expendable of all
chess pieces. As Paul Keres, Estonia’s
chess grandmaster, once said, “The older I grow, the more I appreciate my
Pawns”. Pawns, or Pedati as they
were once known, form your line of approach, defining your offensive game
play strategy and your defensive options.
Pawns can also be instrumental in your endgame strategy, so avoid
sacrificing your Pawn chess pieces when opening. Treat your Pawns with respect for as the
Irish saying goes, “When the chess game is over, the pawn and the king go
back to the same box”.
With this kind of history, it is easy to understand why the designs of
chess pieces vary as they do. In
conforming to each society’s idea of strategic conflict has created a world of
design options for the avid chess player.
You can very easily find a plethora of chess piece designs over the
Internet. For example, Quality-Chess.net,
is a reputable online supplier of quality chess pieces. They have a large selection of chess pieces
and styles to choose from.
About the Author
John Sokol is the creator of <a href="http://www.quality-chess.net" title="Quality Chess">Quality Chess</a> , a
provider of a large selection of <a href="http://www.quality-chess.net" title="Chess pieces">Chess pieces</a> in
different designs.
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