Since its origins in 600 A.D., chess has truly proven to be a timeless game. What started in India as a war game called Chatarung, evolved throughout the centuries.Anything that lasts 1500 years has a tendency to pick up traits directly related to the eras in which its weathered. For instance, the NBA wasn’t always the fitted suit, patterned bow tie, faux-glasses league it is today. The 1970’s offered large collars, heavily patterned suits, and lush fur coats .
Likewise, chess wasn’t always a tech-infused game, meaning computers haven’t always been around to evaluate and rate a player’s every move. Throughout the ages, chess has picked up some timely characteristics.
As the game made its way into Europe, it actually endured the delinquencies of romantics during the middle ages. Not only did adolescents use the game as a means of intimate time, but the Europeans changed the role of the queen entirely.
Up until the medieval period, the queen was known as the ferz, and was, in fact, the weakest piece on the board. The bishop was also weak, which created an incredibly slow-paced game.
Tabiyas–mid-game starting points–were often used to speed up matches. But by the time the medieval period was wrapping up, the queen had become the strongest piece on the board and the bishop increased its range.
Later on, the print press helped solidify these new rules, making the game more violent and harsh.
A quick spin in the Delorean and we have the game in its present, high-tech form.Computers entered the world of chess, notably in 1985,when players played 32 simultaneous matches against various computer competitors. From that time on, chess would start to attract a new breed of players, unlike Grandmasters that had preceded.