What is Indian Chess?

Everyone has played chess. But have you heard of another form of chess which has the same pieces, except it moves differently?

What could it possibly be? Wizard's chess? If you guessed Indian Chess, then you are right!

In Indian Chess, the pieces are the same, the chessboard is the same but the piece order is different. White always starts first. The knight is worth 3 points, the rook is worth 5 points, the queen is worth 9 points, the king is worth an infinite amount of points and pawns have a meagre value of 1 point. All pieces move the same way as in classical chess.

So what is different? Simple. Pawns can only move one step at a time, even in the beginning. Castling is not permitted, so a double move is not possible at all and the rooks are going to be hard to be brought into play and the king be defended. The queen stays at the left-hand side of the king at all times. Even the en passant special capture is not permitted. Once a pawn reaches the other side of the board, it can't be promoted!

With so little excitement in the game, how was it so popular in the medieval times in India? I will reveal it to you in my next blog.

Signing off,

Grandmaster-Whatshisname