Read more
With more than 400 illustrations, and detailed maps, this immense and deeply researched account of the history of chess covers not only the modern international game, derived from Persian and Arab roots, but a broad spectrum of variants going back 1500 years, some of which are still played in various parts of the world. The evolution of strategic board games, especially in India, China and Japan, is discussed in detail. Many more recent chess variants (board sizes, new pieces, 3-D, etc.) are fully covered. Instructions for play are provided, with historical context, for every game presented.
List of contents
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments deletevi
Introduction
Chess of the World delete2 delete/ deleteAbout This Book
Part I.¿Chess of the Arabian Nights
¿1.¿Shatranj delete8
¿2.¿Muslim Chess Variants delete21
¿3.¿Timur's Great Chess
¿4.¿Shatar
Part II.¿Chess in the Land of Monsoons
¿5.¿Chaturanga delete47
¿6.¿Chaturaji delete59
¿7.¿Large and Giant Indian Chess delete64
¿8.¿Ouk and Makruk
¿9.¿Sit-Tu-Yin
¿10.¿Catur delete93
Part III.¿Gunpowder on the Chinese Board
11. Xiangqi delete98
12. Janggi delete109
13. Qiguo Xiangxi delete116
14. Sanguo Qi
15. Banqi
16. Doushouqi
17. Luzhanqi
Part IV.¿Generals and Mercenaries of the Rising Sun
18.¿Shogi delete143
19.¿Chu Shogi and Dai Shogi delete154
20.¿Tenjiku Shogi delete163 delete delete
21.¿Giant Shogis delete167
22.¿Wa Shogi delete177
23.¿Tori Shogi
24.¿Dobutsu Shogi (Let's Catch the Lion!)
25.¿Ko Shogi
26.¿Taikyoku Shogi
Part V.¿Evolution and Revolution in Europe
27.¿Medieval Chess delete199
28.¿Rithmomachy delete211
29.¿King Alfonso's Games delete223
30.¿Courier Chess
31.¿Gala
32.¿European Chess
Part VI.¿Chess Out of the Box
33.¿Knighted Chess Variants delete251
34.¿Fairy Pieces on Board delete265
35.¿Chess and War delete280
36.¿Round Chess delete284
37.¿Hexagonal Chess delete288
38.¿Four-Player Chess
39.¿Three-Player Chess
40.¿3-D Chess
41.¿Extraterrestrial Chess
42.¿Chess960
Part VII. The Origins of Chess
43.¿Legends of the Creation delete327
44.¿The Modern Search Begins delete330 delete delete
45.¿Approaching the Question from Several Angles
Timeline
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the author
Jean-Louis Cazaux of Toulouse, France is a prolific author on chess and chess history. A scientist by profession, his breadth of knowledge and careful research bring chess history to its highest level.Rick Knowlton of Sarasota, Florida, has both studied and recreated historic chess sets from an early age. With a background in fine arts, he uses the Internet to bring chess variants and novelties to a worldwide audience.
Summary
With more than 400 illustrations, and detailed maps, this immense and deeply researched account of the history of chess covers not only the Persian and Arab game familiar to most Westerners for the past 500 years, but also variants going back 1500 years that are still being played in some parts of the world.
