Chaturanga (Chess)
The four limbs of the army — invented in India.
- Players
- 2
- Ages
- 7 and up
- What you need
- A chess set, or a board drawn on paper with paper pieces
Chaturanga — 'four limbs', meaning the elephants, horses, chariots and foot soldiers of an Indian army — was played in India by the sixth century. It travelled to Persia, became shatranj, reached Europe, and turned into modern chess. The elephant became the bishop, and the chariot became the rook.
How to play
- 1Each player has sixteen pieces on an eight-by-eight board.
- 2Every kind of piece moves differently — learn one piece at a time rather than all six at once.
- 3The aim is to trap the opponent's king so it cannot escape. That is checkmate.
- 4Start by playing with only pawns and kings until the pawns feel natural, then add pieces back one at a time.
Good for the body
None — but the stillness and focus it demands are worth training in their own right.
Good for the brain
Planning several moves ahead, holding a position in memory, and considering what the other person intends. Research consistently links chess practice with improvements in concentration and problem-solving.
A note for parents
Chess is the single best game for building the ability to sit with a hard problem without giving up. If a child finds the full game overwhelming, the pawns-only version above is a real game in itself and teaches more than it looks.
Played today?
Ask a parent before going outdoors.