In early chess the moves of the pieces were:
- King: as now.
- Queen: one square diagonally, only.
- Bishop:
- In the version that went into Persia: two squares diagonally (no more or less), but could jump over a piece between
- In a version sometimes found in India in former times: two squares sideways or front-and-back (no more or less), but could jump over a piece between.
- In versions found in Southeast Asia: one square diagonally, or one square forwards.
- Knight: as now.
- Rook: as now.
- Pawn: one square forwards (not two); captured as now. Promoted to queen only.
The history of chess, specifically that of Western Chess, spans some 1500 years. The earliest predecessors of the game originated in India in the 6th century AD and spread to Persia from there.