As Paul Keres, Estonia’s chess grandmaster, once said, “The older I grow, the more I appreciate my Pawns". Pawn – To the ill informed, the pawn, or foot infantry, was the most expendable of all chess pieces.Therefore the Ratha, as the Rook was formally known, was used primarily for defense and/or pinning down opponent’s chess pieces. The Rook has powerful linear movement capabilities, but is susceptible to diagonal attack. Rook – Was initially known as the Chariot and played like a heavy infantry division.The Knight’s power lays in its flanking ability, so it shouldn’t typically lead the charge. The Ashva was intended to act as a mounted division. Knight – The Knight has remained the same in its shape and movement capabilities since it was first known as an Ashva, or Horse.This movement modification has made the Bishop a decisive tool of play from middle-game onwards. The Bishop, or Gaja as it was once known, has lost its vertical capability but its diagonal travel equals that of the modern Queen. Bishop – The Bishop we know today started with a severely circumscribed movement capability, although it possess the modern Knight’s ability to leap to its destination.Now that modern chess has reduced the number of battling armies of chess pieces and players behind them, from four to two, that familiar 64 square board that Chaturanga was born on, opened up, allowing the General, as the Queen was also known, to assume an equally powerful offensive role in modern play. What began as a Mantri, or counselor, was as incapable of long-reaching moves as the King, but equally dexterous.
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