The strategic beginnings of chess



We chatted over breakfast about the origins of chess. Andreas is an anatomist. As a child, 25 years ago, he was the chess champion in his hometown in Bavaria, Germany. He thought the game originated in Persia and told the following story about its invention.

The King of Persia was so impressed by the new game of chess, seeing its potential as a tool for teaching the art of war, that he invited its inventor to ask for anything he wanted.

The game designer asked that a grain of rice should be placed on the first square of the chess board. Then 2 grains, on the square next to it, 4 on the square next to that one and so on, always doubling the number of grains of rice to account for all 64 squares on the board.

The Persian King was surprised by the modesty of the request and agreed that s/he should have what s/he asked for.

Andreas then explained that the quantity of rice required to satisfy this agreement was more rice than we can conceive of and would fill enough large wagons, that if placed end to end, would circle the circumference of the earth.

The conversation then opened to the rest of the breakfasters at the table about how the king would have reacted. Christian felt that the King would be grateful at least to have learned something. I saw no reason to be so optimistic and imagined the inventor decapitated at dawn for treason.