It is generally said that chess was invented in India, and there are a many legends
that relate how this was done. But the turning point in the history of the
game came some time later in another land and by conquerors. The land was
Persia and when the Arabs sized the country in the 7th century of the first millennium
they owned also the game, and they named it Shatranj.
It was almost the same Indian game of Chaturanga with some minor changes, and couldn't
have came in better hands, as the Arabs were in total expansion in that time and
spread the game to the places where they were travelling and conquering kingdoms,
reaching even Europe and the Charlemagne court.
In a period of great splendour in the arts and sciences for the Arabs, his cities
being amongst the wealthiest of the world, the Shatranj game prospered for centuries
under the auspices of the mighty rulers. It became a popular game in a flourishing
culture, and consequently great players surged, tournaments were played and many
books were produced.
One of the great players of his time, Al-Adli, wrote in the 9th century A.D. a cardinal
book dealing with the various elements of the game. The book is lost but by
Arabic references it is known that was a vast work containing a historical exposition
on the roots of the game, Chaturanga; as well as the first classification of players
according to strength and skill: the term Aliyat was used only for the top masters
and Mutaqaribat for the strongest players that were near to them. In the section
dedicated to chess problems or mansubat, there was a systematic division in won,
lost and drawn endings, with hundreds of mansubat. Also in the openings Al-Adli
innovated using a classification by positions or tabiya, with names like: Pharao's
Stones, The Sword, Flank Opening, the Sheikh's Opening, the Army Opening.
It is logical to conclude that every one of the sections of the book required a
deep understanding of the Shatranj game, and that many years and generations of
players were needed to make possible that one talented man as Al-Adli recuperated
the learnings of years of playing.
And like chess champions today, Al-Adli had his nemesis and finally was defeated
in Baghdad by Ar-Razi in a match around 848 A.D. But his successor did also
the same and wrote a book, and so the next Aliyat, and therefore his names and important
works have passed into the history. Some prominent Aliyat and his works are:
- Al-Adli Kitab ash-shatranj (Book of Chess)
- Ar-Razi Al-lutf fy ash-shatranj (Elegance in Chess)
- As-Suli Kitab ash-shatranj (Book of Chess - I) - Kitab ash-shatranj (Book
of Chess - II)
- Al-Lajlaj Kitab mansubat ash-shatranj (Book of Chess Problems)
- Aliqlidisi Kitab majmu' fy mansubat ash-shatranj (Book of Collection of
It is easy to see the similarities between Shatranj in its period of prosperity,
and modern chess, and this goes beyond the pieces used and the movements, for as
today, it involved an entire culture dedicated to the game in the Arab world.
And as today, either the aristocracy and the common people enjoyed playing game
after game in his Arab nights, which explains perfectly why the game persisted for
a long time, being really a popular game.
What attracted all those people with so different backgrounds, either masters or
casual players, in the large and multifaceted Arab world? The excitement of
the battle is for sure one thing present in a Shatranj game, as well as the triumph
of strategy and skill. But it was a different fight as the one we know from
a modern chess game. The reason being the restricted movements of some pieces
(if compared with chess), like the Firzan and Fils, whose modern counterparts are
respectively the mighty Queen and Bishops; also the baidaqs or pawns were allowed
to move always only one square at the time, so entering into the battle was a delayed
matter by nature; it was a game of strategy above all.
Today the rescue of an important variation in the chess history could be a perfect
reason for playing Shatranj, but there are others like the simple appreciation of
a game of deep strategy and different pace of manoeuvre; also of a practical character
is the possible development of a strategic approach in a player's ability and style.
But for knowing that for sure it would be necessary the congregation of many players
interested in the game, and also a good amount of time to again reach some understanding
of the subtleties and possibilities of the game, as the ancient Aliyats once did.
To have a closer look to Shatranj here are some ancient mansubat or chess problems
as they were published more than a thousand of years ago. For better understanding
them it is good to have in mind the next differences in the movement of the Shatranj
pieces involved in this problems.
- Firzan (Queen) Moves to the next square in every diagonal
- Fils (Bishops) Moves two squares diagonally, can leap like a knight
This is a famous Shatranj problem, above all for the tale that accompanies it, that
tells about a man that put his wife as first price in a game; however he was about
to lose until the final moment when the woman kibitzed 'between lines' that he better
sacrificed his two rooks, better than lose her, giving the solution and remaining
with his man. The mansubat also illustrates the advantage of a 'leaping' Fil
that can jump over other pieces, and of course the mate is a privilege of Shatranj.
This combinative mansubat first appeared in Al-Adli's 'Book of Shatranj' about 840
Mansubat ad-Dulabiya (Wheel Problem)
In this fantasy mansubat the two Faras (knights) make the Shah (king) go all over
the board until they mate.
(Start Position) 1.
Armies at war
Finally another mansubat by Al-Adli, with the tale of a white army devastated by
disease and obliged to pact peace, the black Shah orders his Firzan to bring the
white Shah to his presence, but the lazy Firzan sends 2 Baidaqs to carry out the
order; angry the black Shah executes his Firzan and the White Shah afraid at seeing
the cruelty of the black decides to launch a final attack.
(Start Position) 1.
Shatranj links and playing sites:
You can play Shatranj by correspondence here on SchemingMind.com, with the option
of using an unchecked board and elephant-shaped Fils; also the easy rules of the
A java board to play against a machine online.
A magnificent article on Shatranj with nice graphics.
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/7378/aladli.htm Bill Wall's
site on Al-Adli.
An article with historical references and 3 mansubat (in Spanish)
http://www.chessvariants.com/historic.dir/shatranj.html The rules of
Shatranj, and the option to play by mail.