If one was familiar with the modern chess and wanted to play the Indian version, then one should become familiar with the rules for playing Indian Chess. Bear in mind, that as with many things in India, regional variation is the rule rather than the exception. This means that one may find some variation depending upon where one is in India.
Names of the Pieces
The names of the pieces of Indian chess reflect the Shatrang or fourfold divisions of the Indian Army.
- Raja (king)= King
- Mantri (minister) = Queen
- Hathi (elephant) = Bishop
- Ghora (horse) = Horses or Knight
- Ratha (charriot) = Rook or Castle
- Padah (Soldier) = Pawn
Setting up the Board
The same 64 square board is used with alternating light and dark colour squares. The King is to the right of the Minister (Queen). Otherwise the set up is the same as in Modern Chess.
The Moves
Generally speaking, the moves of Indian Chess are almost the same as in Modern Chess. There are a few exceptions which may make the games seem a little cumbersome
- King - one square on any direction. An exception is made for the first time the King is checked whereupon it can make the Knight move!
- Minister - same as Queen
- Elephants - same as Bishops in modern chess
- Horses- same as Horses in modern chess
- Chariots -same as Rook in modern chess
- Soldier- same as Pawn without en passant
Rules of the Game
On the first move of the game each played can make any two moves. This includes moving a pawn two squares, fiachettoing a Minister, bringing out two horses. Thereafter one can make only one move including single square advances for pawns. In some variants the elephant and horse pawns may not move ahead two squares.
There is no castling. A castling-like maneuver is accomplished by moving the King ahead one square. Once a Rook is moved out of the corner, the King makes the Horse move when it is checked for the first time. The King can not capture with this move. In some variants the King must not be checked in order to make this move.
The King's Dignity
One always has to let the King have a major piece to accompany it. If the King is left alone then the game is a draw. Some variants hold that there must be at least five pieces on the board or else the game is drawn. This makes sense given the rule about the defending King always having a piece with it. It would probably require the attacking side to have at least a King and two pieces to effect a win. Stalemate is not permitted and in some versions mate with a pawn is considered a double victory!
More Special Features
Some writers have suggested that the first eight moves are a "mobilization" phase in which one can not move pieces to the opponent's side of the board.
A pawn gets promoted into the piece on whose file it started. This means that a Rook pawn becomes a rook etc. A promoted King pawn becomes a Minister. In some cases/versions, a newly promoted Horse gets a free move provided the promotion square is not under attack. This would mean that the Horse pawn reaches the unattacked promotion square, becomes a Horse and immediately makes the Horse move (if possible!).
Over the ages, the game of chess has become standardized and new rules have been have to make the game more competitive. It is interesting to look at (and play) this older version of the games and to see how some of the modern rules have changed the nature of the battle.
