“Although it may seem strange to many, in general I consider that in chess everything is based on tactics. If one thinks of strategy as a block of marble, then tactics are the chisel with which the master works, in creating works of art. chess. ” Tigran Petrosian
The birth of chess dates back to the sixth century, in India , to spread to the West starting from the year 1000. In this passage from one land to another, some substantial transformations of the game took place, changes that brought not only changes to the rules or the way of moving of the essential elements but also to the denomination of the pieces, up to the chessboard as it is known in the contemporary world. .
Unlike other games, such as dice or cards, its diffusion in the West was not opposed by the ecclesiastical world, on the contrary, the game of chess immediately gained an important role among the aristocratic classes, quickly becoming known as a noble art. The first evidence in our continent can be found in a mosaic (11th-12th century) present in the presbytery of the Church of San Savino in Piacenza. However, it will be necessary to wait for the modern era for the first international tournament, organized on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition in London in 1851 . It attracted the best players of the time (also for the rich prize money up for grabs) and the success paved the way for the first world championship, in the USA in 1886.
If the origins of the game of chess are shrouded in an aura of mystery and legend, there is no doubt instead about the allegorical meaning of the game: it represents a war and the four parts of an army of the time are symbolized (chariots, elephants, knights and foot soldiers).
The chessboard is made up of 64 squares or “squares”, made up of 8 rows technically called “crosspieces” and 8 columns. At the start of the game it must be oriented so that the square in the lower right corner of the two players is of the same color.
Chess skill is gained with long practice and a lot of patience. The aim of the game is to give “checkmate” (from the Persian Shah Màt = the king is dead) to the opposing king; there is “checkmate” when the King, being under the direct threat of the opposing pieces, does not have the possibility to escape it. Here is a detailed GUIDE to get started.