| Chess pieces are not only the rank-and-file | | | | |
| of a chess game, but they are also the heart | | | | - Bishop - The Bishop we know today started |
| and soul of the chess game experience. Chess | | | | with a severely circumscribed movement |
| pieces with matching or unique movement | | | | capability, although it possess the modern |
| qualities completing their intended purpose | | | | Knight's ability to leap to its destination. |
| make for a sharp strategic ballet with nearly | | | | The Bishop, or Gaja as it was once known, has |
| limitless possibilities of progression. | | | | lost its vertical capability but its diagonal |
| | | | travel equals that of the modern Queen. This |
| Pierre Mac Orlan, famous 20th century French | | | | movement modification has made the Bishop a |
| writer and poet, once said, "There are more | | | | decisive tool of play from middle-game |
| adventures on a chessboard than on all the | | | | onwards. |
| seas of the world". In fact, there are | | | | |
| approximately 1040 possible legal chess piece | | | | - Knight - The Knight has remained the same |
| positions. Now consider an average chess | | | | in its shape and movement capabilities since |
| piece position can possess as much as 218 | | | | it was first known as an Ashva, or Horse. The |
| movement possibilities. The resulting number | | | | Ashva was intended to act as a mounted |
| of game play options rockets to a figure that | | | | division. The Knight's power lays in its |
| only International Grandmasters like Garry | | | | flanking ability, so it shouldn't typically |
| Kasparov and super-computers such as Deep | | | | lead the charge. |
| Blue are able to even begin to grasp. | | | | |
| | | | - Rook - Was initially known as the Chariot |
| Sounds daunting, but if the history and | | | | and played like a heavy infantry division. |
| purpose of chess pieces are understood, this | | | | The Rook has powerful linear movement |
| infinitely varied environment can be | | | | capabilities, but is susceptible to diagonal |
| experienced and enjoyed to its fullest. | | | | attack. Therefore the Ratha, as the Rook was |
| | | | formally known, was used primarily for |
| Modern regulation chess sets have a total of | | | | defense and/or pinning down opponent's chess |
| 32 chess pieces divided evenly between two | | | | pieces. |
| players. Each player's force of chess pieces | | | | |
| consists of 2 - Rooks (Castles), 2 - Bishops, | | | | - Pawn - To the ill informed, the pawn, or |
| 2 - Knights, 1 - King, 1 - Queen and 8 - | | | | foot infantry, was the most expendable of all |
| pawns. And their particular histories are as | | | | chess pieces. As Paul Keres, Estonia's chess |
| follows: | | | | grandmaster, once said, "The older I grow, |
| | | | the more I appreciate my Pawns". Pawns, or |
| - King - The King has always been royalty | | | | Pedati as they were once known, form your |
| among chess pieces and if popularly | | | | line of approach, defining your offensive |
| recognized lineage were to be believed, began | | | | game play strategy and your defensive |
| as the Raja. Like most royalty, the ' King' | | | | options. Pawns can also be instrumental in |
| has always been primarily an object of | | | | your endgame strategy, so avoid sacrificing |
| protection rather than one of attack. | | | | your Pawn chess pieces when opening. Treat |
| Therefore, it has limited but dexterous | | | | your Pawns with respect for as the Irish |
| movement capabilities. | | | | saying goes, "When the chess game is over, |
| | | | the pawn and the king go back to the same |
| - Queen - The Queen is a creature of great | | | | box". |
| change in the world of chess pieces. What | | | | |
| began as a Mantri, or counselor, was as | | | | With this kind of history, it is easy to |
| incapable of long-reaching moves as the King, | | | | understand why the designs of chess pieces |
| but equally dexterous. Now that modern chess | | | | vary as they do. In conforming to each |
| has reduced the number of battling armies of | | | | society's idea of strategic conflict has |
| chess pieces and players behind them, from | | | | created a world of design options for the |
| four to two, that familiar 64 square board | | | | avid chess player. |
| that Chaturanga was born on, opened up, | | | | |
| allowing the General, as the Queen was also | | | | You can very easily find a plethora of chess |
| known, to assume an equally powerful | | | | piece designs over the Internet. |
| offensive role in modern play. | | | | |