Chess And You: How To Ready Yourself For Play

Over the past 1500 years, chess has gone through several modifications prior to ultimately becoming the game we recognize today. To some, chess is a boring past time. However, people who do play chess routinely find the board game quite exhilarating. You need only to understand the manner in which the game works.

The History of Chess

Although there is no official documented proof to support the theory, most historians believe that chess was pioneered in Persia. The historians also believed that chess wasn’t meant to be a game at all, but rather as a military tool develop battle strategy. Chess became widespread in medieval Europe. Everybody was taken by chess. Both the royals and the peasants learned to play chess. According to historians, Europe was where chess was transformed into a game.

Board Placement

Technically, any chess tournament cannot start without the proper board setup. Each tiny detail of the setup is crucial. There is even a rule written in the “Laws of Chess'' that explains that before two players can engage in play, the board needs to be positioned in such a way that the bottom right square should be white, and that this should be the same for both players.

The Game Pieces

Generally, the game pieces symbolize the European hierarchical structure. The dispensable pawns are like the commoners of the medieval days. In the match, your pawns are more than commoners. They function as your front men. Then, there are the rooks. They depict your sanctuary. You also have a pair of knights as your chess pieces. During the medieval era, the knights were valuable soldiers, treasured by the royal family. On the chess board, the queen is the most dominant character. Don’t neglect your king though. If the king is captured, the game is through.

The positioning of the game pieces is very important. When the pieces are arranged properly, the order of the white King and Queen should be reversed from the black King and Queen. Arrange the pawns in the row, in front of your key game pieces. When a player is controlling the whites, the pieces must be set up left to right in the order of rook, knight, bishop, Queen, King, bishop, knight, rook.

Though no written rules exist, players know that the pieces must be set up correctly on the board for the game to start. Making sure that everything is in the proper order is a sign of respect towards the game and your colleague.

With the internet giving you a ready supply of players to challenge, chess is gradually making its comeback in the social scene.