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The fascinating history of Chess

May 16, 2024

Throughout human history, one game has remained a staple of cultures, played by kings, nobles, citizens, and peasants alike.

The game we are talking about is over a millennium old, and today is played for fun, at local amateur tournaments, and even on an international professional level. The game we have in mind, is of course, chess.

What is Chess?

We don’t need to delve too deeply into what chess is. It is one of the most popular board games of all time. But, for those who may not be aware of chess and its rules; let us give a brief explanation. Chess is a board, played on a checkered board with 64 spaces. Accommodating two players, each one controls 16 figures, eight of which are pawns, two bishops, two knights, two rooks, a queen and a king.

The ultimate goal of the game is to place one’s opponent in a position where they can’t move the king, without exposing it to danger. This position is called a checkmate. Though chess has had a long history, spanning hundreds of years, it is now more popular than ever. Fans can watch professional tournaments online, place Paris sportifs if they are interested in doing so. There are adult and youth clubs, where one can go to learn more about the game, and play with like-minded people.

Due to the game’s incredible popularity, we thought we’d look into the history of chess. After all, there is over 1,000 years’ worth of history to go over, and most of it is quite fascinating. So, without further ado, let us delve into the interesting history of one of humanity’s favorite pastimes.

Origins of Chess

According to most preserved writings, chess’ beginnings date to the 7th century. The texts come to us from Persian regions of the middle east, and India. According to the Persian records, the game called Chatrang-namak (which today we would recognise as an earlier form of chess), was introduced to the Persians by an Indian ruler in the 6th century.

However, we don’t know much about Chatrang-namak or how it was played. Indeed, the oldest records detailing chess gameplay come to us from the early 9th century, and most are written in Arabic. Al-Adli al-Rumi is the writer of these texts. He was a well-known chess player who lived between 800 and 870, and wrote the Book of Chess, the first ever document officially describing the game’s rules.

Though the Book of Chess is a lost document, we are aware of its existence, as it has been referenced by other works down the line. Since the 800s, chess continued to develop and spread through the world. Through Byzantine traders it reached Europe and the Northern coasts of Africa. A huge factor in the spread of chess was the Silk Road, which remains one of the most impressive trade routes to this day.

The Modern Game

Chess, in its modern iteration, formed around the 13th century. By this point, Europeans were already familiar with the game, and had even written several manuals on how the game is played. The most well-known of these writings is the Libro de los juegos, written by an unknown writer, though commissioned by Alfonso X of Castille. In the manuscript, the writer explains, in detail, the rules behind chess, backgammon, and various dice games.

Nearing the end of the 1200s, Europeans began significantly modifying the rules of chess. The biggest change, which we still are familiar with today are the unique movements. Most of us today know that some of the figures move in a unique way. For example;

● Knight: moves in any direction in an “L” pattern.

● Rook: moves in any direction in a straight line

● Bishop: moves in any direction, diagonally.

● Queen: moves in any direction, without restrictions

These unique movements were not introduced to the game until the 13th century, but remains a staple of the game to this day. Speaking of the queen, before the 13th century, the queen piece was called ‘vizier’, and was by no means the most popular piece. This change came about in the 15th century. It was during this era that books on “chess theory” began to pop up. They were written all over Europe, with the oldest one known to us coming from the University of Gottingen. Similar works appeared throughout Europe, in France, Spain, Italy, etc.

Chess as a Sport

For most of human history, chess has been viewed as a game. A highly intellectual one, which required strategy and critical thinking. Throughout the Romantic period, chess was incredibly popular in coffee houses and shops, as a fun pastime. However, by the end of the period, in the 19th century, the outlook on chess had begun to change.

Wilhelm Steinitz, an Austrian chess player, became the first ever advocate for a “scientific outlook” on chess. He argued in favor of preparing plans, breaking down the game into various components, and approaching the game from a scientist’s perspective. Using his theories, he famously defeated the German chess master, Johannes Zukertort in 1886. This game is regarded as the first ever World Chess Championship match, making Steinitz the first ever world chess champion.

By the late 1800s, local, national, and even international chess matches became a lot more renowned and popular. Master tournaments had already become a staple, and with the coming of the 20th century, chess had become a proper sport. The International Chess Federation formed during the 1920s, and the first ever chess Olympiad was held in Paris during these years.

Chess Today

Chess today is experiencing a resurgence. Thanks to shows like The Queen’s Gambit and websites like Chess.com, the game is a lot more popular than ever. Just a year ago, the Global Chess League partnered with Amazon Music, meaning a lot more people will become exposed to chess in the years to come. The fact that most people can access the game for free online is a huge factor in its popularity.

For the most part, the outlook people have on chess has remained consistent throughout history. Most view it as a game for intellectuals, which requires a lot of critical thinking skills, strategy, and planning to win. That is why chess grandmasters are held in such high regard.

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