Shatranj

Shatranj is an ancient Persian game which is presumed to be the common ancestor of chess, Xiangqi, Shogi, Janggi and Makruk. \nEach descendant has modified the ancient rules in a different way, but for simplicity only the differences with chess will be listed. \nShatranj came to Persia from the Indian game of Chaturanga.

• Bishops, which were called elephants, moved exactly two squares diagonally, jumping over the intervening square. Note that the four bishops each could reach only one fourth of the squares on the board, and because their circuits were disjoint, could never capture one another. This is the one piece that changed its move from Chaturanga.\n*The queen, which was called fers (alferza in old Spanish) or vizier, moved exactly one square diagonally. This made it a rather weak piece. In modern chess, queen is said ferz in Russian and vezér in Hungarian.\n*Pawns in Chatrang did not have the option of moving two squares on the first move.\n*Pawns which reached the eighth rank were promoted, but only to a vizier. \n*Castling was not allowed.\n*Stalemating the opposing king resulted in a loss for the player delivering stalemate.\n*Capturing all one's opponent's pieces apart from the king (baring the king) was a win, unless your opponent could capture your last piece on their next move, when it is a draw.

External link

\n* This and other early variations of chess can be explored at http://www.chessvariants.com\n* You can play turn based Shatranj online at http://www.schemingmind.com/