Sunday 24 March 2013

Determining Where Did Chess Originate

By Jill Faulkner


There are people who seem to have more liking to stay indoors and do anything that they find interesting. Among the many options, board games become quite popular as these are not only meant to be pastime but also let them work their minds. However, they cannot avoid wondering where did chess originate and how it reached its peak at this time.

Many sources have noted that chess began in India at the time of Gupta Empire. It is comprised of four divisions namely elephants, horses, chariots and foot soldiers, apart from the king and his minister. These are represented by certain pieces that evolved through the modern times as pawn, knight, bishop and rook.

It was then introduced to Persia, or Iran at this time, by the soldiers and merchants where it was then called as Shatranj. Consequently, it was also brought by the travelers to China where it was modified and known as Xianqui, while the Japanese called it as Shogi. The Muslims came to know about it when they have invaded Persia and spread it throughout Europe.

During the medieval period, it became popular among the people all over Europe and was believed to be the game of a king. It is considered to be a game about conquest and military strategy but it also teaches noble obligations. This was somehow integrated into their education and was commonly played during social events in wealthy homes.

An additional piece was added known as the bishop because of the strong influence of the Catholic religion. On the other hand, the queen was used instead of the minister and with the rules changed, it has become more mobile around the board. All the players developed their complex theory and became better in formulating strategies.

In order to excel in this field, one must be good in analyzing and creating good strategies as well as easily decipher the moves of the opponent. The rules were made official and then utilized when judging a competition. The players were given rating for their performance and the time was limited to make it more challenging.

Recently, most schools participate in various competition where they get to compete with another competitors from different school. There are elderly people who play this particular game so that they can get to socialize with others while sitting in their backyard. Even children have acquired these skills and get the chance to join in contest.

With the advancement of the technology, one can play against the computer and adjust the level of difficulty depending on his skills. The computers may win over the amateur players but most experts with extensive experience are quite hard to beat. With the use of internet services, an individual can play against another considering that they are both logged in to the website.

There are books in the retail stores that you can buy so that you will know exactly where did chess originate. More people are lured into learning the ways of the game not only because they want to develop their skills but also to keep their mind active. Thus, one can enjoy a weekend stay in their homes just by opening the board and playing the game.




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