King of games or game of kings, chess has a fascinating past. The bishop and rook appeared during the Middle Ages. Then dice disappeared; the number of players was reduced to two; and the shapes of the pieces changed. The Indian chariot and elephant were removed. International chess rules, as we know them today, were established in London in 1851.
With its spiritual perfection and universe of light and darkness, the chessboard is replete with powerful symbolism in every culture. It is the Chinese yin and yang, the Indian mandala, the symbol of the battle between the forces within man. The player is entirely responsible for his every move on the board; the result of the game depends on his cleverness alone. The expression checkmate comes from the Persian, shah-mat, meaning, “the shah is helpless”.
