Originally posted by RedmikeThanks for clarifying this for me Redmike, I wasn't sure if Persia was indeed Iraq, and thanx for correcting me that the persian word for King is Shah, and yes this did develope into check and shah-mat into checkmate. Anyway just to add to my point, I did say chess as we know originated in Persia but it was India that introduced it to them. But I am not convinced it was originated in India, scientists for years have argued this and the most up to date theory and probably correct is that it originated in China, the earliest writings regarding the Indian version was 15th and 16th century but China had a game very similar to chess as we know it (with a few minor differences) they had a river that pieces had to cross on the board, they had rooks (chariots) knights, and yes even a bishop. The Indian game did not. Tosettle argument about the british, the only input we had in developing this are the Staunton pieces and I believed it was a collaboration between a brit and an italian who introduced the mighty queen.
You're correct about Persia. Iraq's borders were arbitrarily drawn by Britain early in the 20th Century (not sure exactly when), but Persia was were Iraq (and Kuwait etc) are now.
The arabic word for king is shah (as in the shah of Iran), and a word for dead is mat, hence shah-mat, which became checkmate.
So in my opinion the Chinese are the originators of the beautiful game.
Robbo
Robbo.
Originally posted by eyeqpcI thought I was agreeing with you rather than correcting you about 'shah'....
Thanks for clarifying this for me Redmike, I wasn't sure if Persia was indeed Iraq, and thanx for correcting me that the persian word for King is Shah, and yes this did develope into check and shah-mat into checkmate. Anyway just to add to my point, I did say chess as we know originated in Persia but it was India that introduced it to them. But I am not conv ...[text shortened]... een.
So in my opinion the Chinese are the originators of the beautiful game.
Robbo
Robbo.
And I am sure you can note for me immediately the last British world champion?? Staunton? Hmmm. He would have been thrashed with ease from the like the great Paul Morphy, an American mind you, who memorized the Louisana code of law by heart, the youngest lawyer of his time at the age of 19, not bad for a yank I might say, not to even mention arguably the best chess player of all time Bobby Fischer, hmmm I think he was American too if memory serves me correctly.
I agree completely, Morphy could have given Staunton pawn and move and would have thrashed him like a neophyte. I have seen hundreds of Morphy games, a real genius he was and would have been a monolithic player today. Give Morphy 6 months in todays world to study the plethora of knowledge that has been gained in the modern game and he would be beating top notched grandmasters.
Originally posted by patrick711a fella called tony miles came and lived in adelaide for a while, he played some of my friends regularly - perhaps not the earth, but a damn fine inheritance that was - then he left.
Yes well, no fear that Australia will one day inherit the earth..
i think we need to aim higher next time, up to our aussie women to woe them, although judit would be alright by me :-)