An Introduction to Chess Sets
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by Thomas Morva
Chess is a popular board game across the world.
While many people are content to play chess on a regular
board with plastic pieces, many players who truly
love the game take pride in their unique chess sets.
There are many different kinds of chess sets to accommodate
all chess players. Chess sets are made out of many
different materials such as glass, ivory, marble,
and wood. Some chess sets are especially small or
have magnetic pieces, perfect for taking on trips
and playing while traveling.
People have been playing chess for many centuries.
No one knows for sure where or when it originated,
but it is known that people in Persia, India, and
China played chess in the Middle Ages. The game spread
to the Middle East next, then to Spain and the rest
of Europe. It is very likely that the game pieces
were altered once the game spread through Europe to
take on the forms that they currently have.
The different pieces in a chess set each represent
parts of medieval life. The pawns represent peasants.
Just as peasants were considered unimportant to people
in power, pawns are the weakest pieces in the game
of chess and are used primarily as sacrifices. The
rooks, or castles, represent home and sanctuary. The
knight represents soldiers, who, at the time, were
held in high esteem, but not as much as the church
or royal family. The bishops represent priests and
are considered more valuable than knights. The queen
is probably the most powerful piece on the board,
but the king is the one that must be protected at
all costs, or the game is lost.
Chess players at all skill levels marvel at the craftsmanship
that goes into creating fine chess sets. It takes
true artistry to create chess sets out of wood, stone
and glass. Many chess sets are extremely rare and
are valuable collector's items.
About the Author
Chess Sets Info provides detailed information about
travel, glass, wooden, magnetic, marble, ivory, themed,
and collectors' chess sets. Chess
Sets Info is affiliated with Original Content.
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