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by Fran Black
Over the years, chess spread throughout the world
and enjoyed massive waves of popularity. Undoubtedly,
reality is reflected in the idea that chess originated
either as an aid or substitute for warfare. This stemmed
from the notion that chess was invented as a war game
and so, that is the manner in which it should executed.
In fact in order to be knighted, it helped if you
played a good game of chess.
And finally, a mention should be made of pawns;
those so adequately named pieces which are even denied
the status of chess 'men'. Pawns were sacrificial
pieces.
While chess might have originated as a war game,
it was seen as a game of nobility and education in
Europe in the 1500s. It can be seen that from actions
in Europe around the year 1500 that chess had become
strongly ingrained in western society. Within European
Aristocracy, the concept behind chess became a royal
court rather than a battlefield. However, the game's
popularity was helped by its social cache: a chess
set was often associated with wealth, knowledge, and
power. As a result it became fashionable for aristocrats
to have live-in chess masters. In fact during difficult
times in Protestant Europe there were massive attacks
on "ungodly pursuits," but chess was often defended
while other pastimes were denied.
As a result chess has long been considered the ultimate
test of intellectual activity. Some feel that because
of its difficulty and boorishness, chess diminished
in its traditional appeal. However, most will agree
that the chess community has traditionally been more
enlightened than the larger society.
Mass production of chess sets helped introduce chess
to the lower class. The low cost to produce the Staunton
set allowed the masses to purchase sets and helped
to again popularize the game of chess. But chess is
more than just a game of skill. Chess stood a turn
in education as teachers noted that students' behavior
improved upon learning chess. How far beyond chess
such aptitude can be expanded is the next big question.
One that is still argued today. Playing chess by
computer began in the early 1950s, nearly as soon
as computers became available. The rules of play early
intrigued computer scientists-MIT wrote the first
chess program in 1957. Some programmers believe that
work on computer chess led to important software techniques
still in use today. The worldwide fascination for
chess has been astonishing. It has been said that
there is more literature devoted to chess than for
all other games combined. Today, chess is played world
wide with international appeal.
About the Author
Francesca Black works in marketing at the Puzzle Place
http://www.puzzle-place.net
and Chess Strategies http://www.chess-strategies.net
leading puzzle and strategy portals.
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