![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Chaturanga_Chess_Set.jpg/220px-Chaturanga_Chess_Set.jpg)
Indian chess is the name given to regional variations of chess played in India in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is distinct from chaturanga. There are several such variations, all quite similar to modern rules, with variants regarding castling, pawn promotion, etc. These variants were popular in India until the 1960s. However, even today a mix of Indian and international rules and terminology are used in some parts of India.
Differences from Western chess
[edit]- Both kings are placed on the right of the queens at the beginning of the game.
- The pawn's two-step initial move is absent in Indian chess; thus, the en passant capture is also absent.
- Normal castling with rook and king is absent. The unchecked king can make a knight's move once in a game, known as Indian castling or king's leap.
- On reaching the opposite end of the board, a pawn is promoted to a piece of the type that began on that square. If it is promoted on the king's initial position, it is promoted a queen.
- If there is one piece remaining other than the kings, it may not be captured. Alternatively, it may be captured unless it is a pawn.
- When only the kings and pawns are left in play, the opponent may not give check, but they can win by stalemate. Alternatively, giving check is allowed, but the capture of the last pawn (which would result in a draw) is disallowed.
- The king cannot move unless at least one check has been given, though this is a regional variation.
Names of the pieces
[edit]The following table describes one version of Indian chess terminology for the various pieces (including Hindi and Urdu pronunciations; orange indicates most common terminology in Hindi, green indicates that in Urdu):[1][2]
Standard chess piece | Indian chess piece | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
English | Hindi | Urdu | ISO 15919 | Other | Telugu | Malayalam | Tamil | |
king | king | राजा | راجا | rājā | రాజు | രാജാവ് | ராஜா | |
बादशाह | بادشاہ | bādśāh | ||||||
queen | ferz/minister | मन्त्री | منتری | mantrī | మంత్రి | മന്ത്രി | ||
वज़ीर | وزیر | vazīr | ||||||
queen | रानी | رانی | rānī | ராணி / அரசி | ||||
मलिका | ملکہ | malikā | ||||||
general | सेनापति | سیناپتی | sēnāpati | |||||
rook | rook/chariot | रथ | رتھ | rath | തേര് | |||
रुख़ | رخ | rux | rukkha[3] | |||||
castle | क़िला | قلعہ | qilā | கோட்டை | ||||
elephant | हाथी | ہاتھی | hāthī | hattī[4] | ఏనుగు | யானை | ||
knight | horse | घोड़ा | گھوڑا | ghōṛā | గుర్రం | കുതിര | குதிரை | |
bishop | alfil/elephant | फ़ियला | فیلہ | fiyalā/fīlā | ആന | |||
camel | ऊँट | اونٹ | ū̃ṭ | |||||
chariot | శకటు | |||||||
minister | அமைச்சர் | |||||||
pawn | infantryman | पैदल | پیدل | paidal | കാലാള് / പടയാളി | காலாள் | ||
प्यादा | پیادہ | pyādā | ||||||
soldier | सैनिक | سینک | sainik | బంటు | சிப்பாய் | |||
सिपाही | سپاہی | sipāhī |
See also
[edit]- Origins of chess
- Chaturaji, four-handed version of chaturanga
- Shatranj
- Xiangqi
References
[edit]- ^ Cazaux, Jean-Louis. "Indian Chess Sets". Another view on Chess: Odyssey of Chess. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ^ "MCW নতুন লগইন বোনাস Bangladesh". Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ Punjabi
- ^ Marathi
Further reading
[edit]- Bhartiya Shatranj [in Hindi] by Dwarka Prasad Gupta. Published by Vangmaya Prakashan, Jaipur
- The History of Chess: from the Time of the Early Invention of the Game in India till the Period of its establishment in Western and Central Europe - The History of Chess: from the Time of the Early Invention of the Game in India till the Period of its establishment in Western and Central Europe