I've always been fascinated by chess. Today, Im a whiz at planning strategy and using the various pieces to best advantage. But I still remember how I got hooked on chess as a young kid. Of course, like most kids, my love affair with chess started by watching my elders play. My eyebrows would always rise and I would always be spellbound whenever one of my elder cousins would exclaim checkmate which a triumphant smile and a gleam in his eyes. I told myself, I want that feeling, too. So, I started to play chess.

When I found out exactly how checkmate got its meaning, I was hooked all the more. Apparently, the word checkmate comes from the English translation of the Persian phras shah mat which means the king is finished. As an impressionable young child with dreams of heroism and courage in warfare, slaying an opponents king was the ultimate for me. And even the pieces have such interesting meanings.

For example, the word rook came from the word rath in Sanskrit which is translated as chariot. However, it has other meanings in other languages. In Persia, it refers to the word roc which is a great mythical bird with supernatural powers. In India, the piece is called haathi or elephant.

Interesting enough, the bishop is also called elephant or pil in Persia. There were little or no elephants in Europe and the west, yet the reference to this piece as an elephant spread there nonetheless. In Russia, the bishop is referred to as a slon the Russian word for elephant. In Spain, the piece is called alfil, which is believe to have come from the Arabic words for elephant (al is the, fil is elephant). The piece was previously only referred to as a bishop in England mainly because the original shape of the piece fetured the tusk of an elephant which resemble a bishops mitre.

The theres the queen. The piece was originally called farzin or vizier in Persia and firzan in Arabic. In Russia, the piece was called the fers. It is also known as alfferza in Western Europe.

About the Author:
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Games, Tennis, and Boating

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