Some History Surrounding Chess Pieces

It can be noted that not only does one need chess pieces in order to play, but they can be described as the heart and soul of chess. The pieces were created with individual moves and purposes in mind according to their rank and importance. It is said that there are limitless movements when it comes to chess and it would take a mind even sharper than the Grandest Master of chess to grasp.

» The Pieces

Each player has sixteen chess pieces for a total of thirty two on the board at the beginning of play. There are 8 pawns, 2 knights, 2 rooks or castles, 2 bishops, one king and a single queen as well.

The King - Popular belief holds that the first royal king in chess was fashioned after the Raja. As in life, the king holds a position of protection in the game and has limited yet adroit movements allowed. The Queen - The queen has seen the most changes as one of the chess pieces. She began as a counselor or Mantri and has ended up as a General that can assume a role in offensive play that is quite powerful. She got her new position due to the reduction of pieces battling on the board and overtook that of the General, forever to be known in chess as the Queen.

The Bishop - The bishop has a strict capability for movement, though like the knight it can leap to its goal. This chess piece was known as Gaja in the past and its present purpose has lost the ability to move vertically. The travel it makes diagonally is equal to today’s Queen.

The Knight - Little has changed for the chess piece once known as Horse or Ashva. The knight has stayed the same in regards to its movement capabilities and its shape for as long as the game has been played. The knight is not typically asked to lead the charge, instead use its superior flanking ability.

The Rook - This chess piece was known as the Chariot at first, considered the division of heavy infantry in the game. It was also known as the Ratha. It possesses powerful movement abilities, and is typically used in defense as well as to pin down the chess pieces of the opponent.

The Pawn - These chess pieces are considered expendable and can be likened to the foot soldiers in a typical army troop. They can be used to define both offensive and defensive options and can be quite useful for strategy at the endgame. You are well advised to protect your pawns, especially when you are opening. The Irish have a saying, “When the chess game is over, the pawn and the king go back to the same box.” In other words, respect your pawns and they will take care of you.

The chess pieces can be looked upon as not only parts of a game, but a window into the medieval past where everyone was born into their place and there was not much movement between classes. The king and the queen were the rulers and everyone else was merely there to serve them, though if you look at the game closely, the game cannot be won without the cooperation of the rest of the pieces.

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