History of Chess: Table of Contents

Variety of chess all over the world

This section presents the different games of Chess that are traditionally played in different part of the world. The most famous are Xiangqi (Chinese chess) and Shogi (Japanese Chess) but they are many more which are less known in Korea, South-East Asia, Mongolia, India and even in Eastern Africa.

There are also varieties that have been played in the past centuries, and that are re-discovered by today players such as Tamerlane Chess, Grant Acedrex, Courier Chess and some others.

Origin(s) and Evolution of Chess

Where, when, why, how was Chess born? This section presents several pages related to the birth of Chess and the evolution of this game.

Interested readers are invited to consult our book, A World of Chess, for a complete presentation and discussion of this subject. And, if French is understood, L'Odyssée des jeux d'échecs.

The archaeological findings

This section aims are presenting the different findings, artifacts and sculptures of Chess sets and pieces.

Some objects are controversial and these are discussed in these pages.

Many illustrations can be found here!

What are the sources available to the historians and what do they tell us ?

Here are all known historic texts presented in chronological order. For each one, a table summarizes: estimated date of writing / work title / author / language.

• 6th, 7th and 8th century

• 9th and 10th century

• 11th and 12th century

• 13th, 14th and 15th century

• 16th and 17th century

In memoriam of H.J.R. (Harold James Ruthen) Murray (1868 - 1955)

Greatest Chess historian ever, author of the monumental "A History of Chess" (1913).