The Mystery that is Chess

Chess is a very popular game, throughout the entire world. Where did it originate? It actually came out of Persia. It was introduced to Europe by the Knights Templar, who brought it back from the crusades. It's a war game. The pieces represent the components of an army.

Pawns

The pawns are the foot soldiers. They move forwards, one square at a time. Apart from on their first move, when they can advance two squares. That was a Persian military tactic. The foot soldiers would move ahead of the rest of the army and form a line of defense with their spears. And they can move diagonally to kill an opponent piece.

Rooks

The rooks - also known as castles - were originally elephants. There are medieval paintings depicting elephants with castles on their backs. Elephant and Castle is a famous area in South East London. The rooks can stampede the entire length of the board, straight ahead or to the side. And woe betide anything that gets in their way.

Knights

The knights are the heavy cavalry. Their stallions canter. Hence the knights move in a cantering fashion - one square to the side and two ahead, or two ahead and one to the side.

Bishops

The bishops were originally ships. Ships pitch their sales into the wind and move in a yawing motion. Hence the bishops move diagonally. When the game became popular throughout Europe, the Pope complained that there was no ecclesiastical presence on the board. He insisted on the church having a presence, and it had to be next to the king. So the ships became bishops.

The King

The king is encumbered by his treasure. He has to take it into battle with him - if he leaves it at home, there is no-one to protect it. His army is tied up fighting this battle...So, the king can only move one square at a time, in any direction.

The Queen

The queen has no such encumbrance. Protected by her light cavalry, she can move the entire length of the board in any direction.

I used to play chess, but I don't any more. It forces you to concentrate hard, and my brain isn't equipped to do that very well these days. I knew players who could calculate three or four moves ahead. I don't even want to think about that. What do you think. Are there any chess lovers out there?