Originally posted by AnwylydIt's rather the other way round - legends seem to be the only reason why people believe it originated in India. The legend is constructed to make the point that Persia is superior and uses those games for that purpose. It's wrong about Nard, so why should it be right about chess? According to the book, the first time chess is mentioned in the Indian literature is in the beginning of the 7th century, and descriptions of how the pieces move are even later. And the first archeological findings which can be connected to chess in India are long after the arabs got to know the game from the Persians (second half of the 7th century).
Ah... but even the persian legend acknowledges India as the creater of the game...
Despite having a long and illustrious history, Stanley Random Chess (commonly designated SR Chess), is relatively unknown in the modern era due to the fact that it flourished in exclusive clubs and under the cover of secret societies. Not to be confused with Fischer Random Chess (FR Chess), SR Chess has only recently emerged into the modern public arena, where it is presented as a chess variant. Recent historical studies published by Dr. Bill Goldman have now offered conclusive proof that in fact the more commonly played "traditional" chess is merely an inferior and simplified variant of SR Chess. For this reason common chess is usually designated in SR Chess circles as Simplified Stanley Random Chess, or Simplified SR Chess. While superficially similar to Simplified SR (Common) Chess, SR Chess is a far more advanced and complex game that requires greater skill and imagination. Unlike the more popular and simplified form of the game, it relies more on pattern recognition and sequenced moves, offering a complexity and creativity that is initially perplexing for new players, but far more rewarding. It relies less on memorization and opening theory, and leads to more exciting and creative play, with draws being relatively infrequent.
Many mistakenly believe that SR Chess is a recent phenomenon and merely a variant of Simplified SR (Common) Chess. Following concentrated studies of the Stanley family in early Britain, recent scholarship has become convinced that the relationship between these two forms of chess is in fact reversed, and that SR Chess is the original form of the game from which Common Chess developed as a simplified form of the game.
The first mention of the game itself is found in historical accounts of the Ferrers family in 1137. The Stanley family apparently learned the game of SR Chess when they assumed the Earl of Derby title from the Ferrers in 1485. The Stanley family quickly developed a passionate love for SR Chess, and actively promoted the game, hosting annual tournaments for the Stanley Cup. In 1892, the Stanley Cup was sadly donated by the rebel Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, from which time it was used as a trophy for amateur hockey in Canada. Frederick T. Stanley, who in 1843 founded The Stanley Works, at that time a bolt and door hardware manufacturing company located in New Britain, was responsible for popularizing SR Chess in America. Directors of his company (now renowned for making fine hand tools and industrial tools) are still known to play SR Chess in board meetings today.
Until the 20th century, the game was simply known as Stanley Chess. When the popularity of the simplified form of the game (now known as Simplified SR Chess, or Common Chess) overtook the traditional form of the game, the original regulations that strictly governed the sequences and patterns of the original game (previously common knowledge) gradually were forgotten by the general chess playing public. To players of Common Chess not familiar with the body of laws that governed legal patterns and sequences, the unique play of Stanley Chess appeared obscure and "random", and so the game acquired the unfortunate designation "Stanley Random Chess" or SR Chess. Originally intended as an insult, the name has stuck, although it is a misnomer and SR Chess is certainly not random. The original form of the game is far more advanced and complex than Simplified SR (Common) Chess, and experts are agreed that the additional rules that govern move sequences and patterns lead to more creative and imaginative play than the adulterated and simplified form of the game that is commonly played around the world today.
It is regrettable that much of the traditional SR Chess rules and terminology are unfamiliar to chess players today. This is the sad consequence of the Great SR Chess Purge in the mid-nineteenth century, which involved the systematic cleansing of SR Chess materials from libraries and schools, as a result of high ranking leaders developing a fierce antagonism toward the game. Sadly, this accounts for a great deal of the general public ignorance about SR Chess, and the popularity of its inferior and simplified variant, Common Chess.
Recent times have seen the beginning of an acknowledgement of Common Chess's origins in SR Chess, and a renewed appreciation for SR Chess. In honour of William the Conqueror's pet monkey, the original Stanley, software developer UbiSoft has added a Stanley Random personality to its Chessmaster program, although this personality is not very competent at the game, and SR Chess rules are not enforced for human players.
Since its humble beginning, SR Chess has experienced rapid growth and flourished especially in the late medieval era. But despite an evolutionary journey of progress from the original Stanley and the Stanley family, the game is yet to receive the universal recognition it richly deserves. In particular, the rise of Simplified SR (Common) Chess led to SR Chess seeing a significant decline in the number of players over the last few centuries. With the advent of playing opportunities on the internet, there is good reason today for optimism about renewed growth and appreciation for the original form of the game.
(SR Chess GM Gregory Topov)
It was invented a long time ago, and is sometimes labeled "the game of kings" due to its, duh, favor with the royal families of history. However, on a site called RedHotPawn, it has evolved into a game without a name, but is known as "I got beat, so I'm gonna accuse him of cheating"
I just stumbled over this page: http://www.mynetcologne.de/~nc-jostenge/
Quote from the page:
"The Initiative Group Königstein is a world-wide group of chess historians, emanating from Germany, and is aimed as a community interested in chess-history with emphasis on the further promotion of the scientific research perspectives of the expert treatment of the entire history of the game of chess in all its branches and facets. It is, without actually having an established organisation structure, a loose union of scientists, serious researchers into the history of chess and finally also the enthusiasts generally interested in chess history. The circle is open to all who are able and willing to do research in impartiality and tolerance. The circle is international in all aspects as its multilingualism and diversity of promotion proves."
Looks interesting.