Chess is life, said Bobby Fischer. Chess is like life, countered his arch rival, Boris Spassky. It was always a close contest between these two legends of the game. A common point that emerges from both statements is that chess imitates life as few other games do. This, perhaps, explains the fascination it holds for all, those that actually play the game as also those that just have a general interest in it. Parents, who otherwise consider sports as a distraction from academics, nonetheless make an allowance for chess and would that their children excel in it. Benjamin Franklin felt that chess promotes useful habits in life. Among these, Franklin counts three major habits. One, foresight, meaning the habit that 'looks into futurity and considers the consequences that may attend an action'. Two, circumspection, meaning the habit that 'surveys the whole Chess-board, or scene of action: the relation of the several pieces, and their situations'. And three, caution or the habit 'not to make our moves too hastily'.

Herein is a fundamental difference between the game of chess and dice. Whereas the game of dice is largely dependent on chance, chess depends on prudence and calculation.

This game imitates life, but it would perhaps be more appropriate to say that chess imitates politics. Little wonder that it has been the favourite pastime of royals the world over. The game is believed to have originated in India sometime during the Gupta rule (280 - 550 AD). It was then called chaturanga, a term that refers to the four divisions of an army - infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots - corresponding respectively, to the pawns, knights, bishop (called alfil, elephant, in Persia) and rook (coming from the Persian rukh, or Sanskrit rath, both meaning a chariot). From Persia the game travelled to Europe, where it gradually acquired its present format.

(Source: "Are You a Monkey, or Are You a Kitten?" by K.S. Ram and Uma Ram)