Who Invented the Game of Chess?

Chess is a game of strategy and skill that pits two players against each other. Chess is played on a board consisting of 64 alternately-colored squares. Each player possesses 16 game pieces that range in power. The game pieces are: pawns, rooks, knights, bishops, queens and kings. Each player tries to capture (checkmate) the opponent's most powerful game piece (the king). The history of chess dates back several centuries.

Beginnings

Chess is believed to have originated in the sixth century A.D. in the area of the world around China, Indian and Persia.

First Name

Chess was first known as chaturariga in India, and was the first version of chess to clearly define rules of play. Chaturariga was the first version of chess to give different pieces various powers, with victory depending on the fate of one piece.

Spreading the Game

Moorish soldiers learned the game of chaturariga when they invaded Persia in the 700s. When the soldiers headed west to Europe, they took the game of chaturariga with them.

Written History

The first written history of chess (chaturariga) dates back to the ninth century A.D. In the 800s, the Persian poet Firdousi wrote of the game while Arab writer Al-Aldi wrote a manuscript explaining the rules of the game.

Modern Times

In 1000 A.D, Europeans created a checkered board to make playing the game easier on the eyes. During medieval times, in the fifteenth century, Europeans changed the game of chaturariga to mirror their lives by renaming the game and its pieces to the names used today.

Testing Skills

In 1851 the world's first chess tournament was held in London. German professor Adolf Anderssen won the first tournament.