CHAPTER 1

CHESS FOR BEGINNERS

Introduction

HISTORY OF CHESS

Chess originated in India during the Gupta empire where its early form in the 6 th century
was known as caturiga which translates as “ four divisions (of the military)” – infantry, cavalry,
elephants, and chariotry, represented by the pieces that would evolve into the modern pawn,
knight, bishop, and rook, respectively. Both the Persians and Arabs attribute the game of chess
to the Indians. In Sassanid Persia around 600, the name SHATRANJ and the rules were
developed further. SHATRANJ was taken up by the Muslim world after the Islamic conquest of
Persia, with the pieces largely retaining their Persian names. In Spanish “shatranj” was
rendered as AJEDREZ, in Portuguese as XADREZ, and in Greek as ZATRIKION, but in the rest of
Europe it was replaced by versions of the Persian Shah (“king”), which was familiar as an
exclamation and became our words “check and chess”. Murray theorized that this change
happened from Muslim traders coming to European seaports with ornamental chess kings as
curios before they brought the game of chess.
The game reached Western Europe and Russia by at least three routes, the earliest being
in the 9th century. By the year 1000 it had spread throughout Europe. Introduced into the
Iberian Peninsula by the Moors in the 10th century, it was described in a famous 13th century
manuscript covering shatranj, backgammon and dice named Libro de los Juegos.
Another theory contends that chess arose from the game “xiangqi” (Chinese chess) or
one of its predecessors.
(Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

BIRTH OF A SPORT
The first modern chess tournament was held in London in 1851 and won, surprisingly, by
German Adolf Anderssen.
The first regarded official World Chess Championship was won by Wilhelm Steinitz with
his triumph over German master Johannes Zukertort in 1886. Steinitz lost his crown in 1894 to
a much younger German mathematician Emmanuel Lasker who maintained this title for 27
years, the longest tenure of all World Champions. It took a prodigy from Cuba, Jose Raoul
Capablanca (World Champion 1921-27) to end the German speaking dominance in chess.
He was succeeded by the Russian-French Alexander Alekhine who died as the World
Champion in 1946, having briefly lost the title to Dutch player Max Euwe in 1935 and regaining
it two years later.

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After the death of Alekhine, a new World Champion was sought in a tournament of elite
players ruled by FIDE, who have controlled the title since then, with one interruption. The
winner of the 1948 tournament, Russian Mikhail Botvinnik started an era of Soviet dominance
in the chess world. Until the end of the Soviet Union, there was only one non-Soviet champion,
American Bobby Fischer (champion 1972-75). In 1957, Botvinnik lost to Vasily Smyslov but
regained the title in a rematch in 1958 but again lost the title to Latvian prodigy Mikhail Tal.

The next world champion was Armenian Tigran Petrosian and succeeded by Boris
Spassky from Russia (1969-1972). He was dethroned by the first non Soviet challenger since
World War II, American Bobby Fischer. In 1975, however, Fischer refused to defend his title
against Soviet Anatoly Karpov when FIDE refused to meet his demands, and Karpov obtained
the title by default. Karpov defended his title twice against Viktor Korchnoi and dominated the
1970 and early 1980s.

Karpov’s reign finally ended in 1985 at the hands of another Russian player, Garry
Kasparov. Kasparov and Karpov contested five world title matches between 1984 and 1990.
Karpov never won his title back.

In 1993, Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short broke from the FIDE to organize their own
match tor the title and formed a competing Professional Chess Association (PCA). From then
until 2006, there were two simultaneous World Champions and World Championships. Kasparov
lost his Classical title in 2000 to Vladimir Kramnik of Russia.

The World Chess Championship 2006 reunified the titles, when Kramnik beat the FIDE
World Champion Veselin Topalov and became the undisputed World Chess Champion. In
September 2007, he lost the title to Viswanathan Anand of India who won the championship
tournament in Mexico City. Anand defended his title in the revenge match in 2008.

PHILIPPINE CHESS
For the past three decades, Chess in the Philippines is best personified by GM Eugene
Torre, Asia’s first International Grandmaster (GM). He learned the basics of chess at age 6 and
became National Junior Champion at age 16 and also won the National Open Championship. He
achieved the GM title at age 22 in 1974 and was ranked 17th in the world in the early 1980’s. He
registered wins against world caliber players including World Champion Anatoly Karpov. He
qualified for the Candidates Matches after topping the 1982 Toluca Interzonals losing in the
quarterfinals to the legendary GM Zoltan Ribli. He has represented the Philippines in the World
Chess Olympiad for 19 consecutive playing years.

The exploits over the chess board of the late GM Rosendo Balinas are also chronicled. He
was awarded the GM title in 1976 and the solo champion in the Odessa tournament in Russia.

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The FIDE recognized chess association in the Philippines is known as the NATIONAL
CHESS FEDERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NCFP) headed by its incumbent President, Prospero
‘Butch’ Pichay. During his tenure, chess has gained outstanding popularity and has produced
many International Grandmasters in the persons of GM Jayson Gonzales, GM Darwin Laylo, GM
Wesley So, GM John Paul Gomez. and the latest is GM Joseph Sanchez.

Former Congressman Pichay, with his dynamic leadership and ingenuity has recognized
that local talents are hard pressed for funds to campaign abroad. So he initiated to bring and
succeeded in holding numerous international chess events in the country. Local high level and
grassroots chess tournaments also increased.

The recent successes of GM Wesley So in international events has put the Philippines
into the limelight of the chess world and inspired young chessplayers to emulate him. He
achieved the International Grandmaster title at the age of 14 years 1 month and 28 days. In the
process he became the 7th youngest person to achieve GM title in the history of chess. His
current ELO rating of 2627 is the highest in the country today. In 2006, he was the youngest
member of the men’s national teams in the 37th Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy. In 2008 he won
the Dubai Chess Open as the youngest winner at age 14, in club history and champion of the
“Battle of GMs” in Manila. And in February 2009, he emerged as Champion in Group C of the
71st Corus Chess Tournament in the Netherlands. With his diligence, discipline and dedication
he will bring more honor and pride to our country.

Brother Rolando R. Dizon, former President of the De La Salle University and former
CHED chairman strongly believes that chess must be taught at an early age. He initiated and
through their concerted efforts with Mr. Butch Pichay were able to realize this with the signing
of Department of Education Memorandum by Secretary Jesli Lapuz including chess in the
curriculum effective school year 2009-2010 starting with Grade 3 students and eventually until
Grade 6.

Filipino International Grandmasters

GM Eugene Torre GM Wesley So

GM Rosendo Balinas GM Mark Paragua
GM Rogelio Antonio GM Darwin Laylo
GM Buenaventura Villamayor GM Jason Gonzales
GM Nelson Mariano GM John Paul Gomez
GM Joseph Sanchez

Other noted chess players:

Florencio Campomanes : FIDE President 1982-1995

FIDE Honorary President (1995 to today)
Chess National Master; International Arbiter
IM Rodolfo Tan Cardoso : 1st Asian International Master. Achieved the title in 1957.

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WHAT AGE IS GOOD TO START TEACHING CHESS TO CHILDREN

To the Age of Enlightenment, chess appeared mainly for self-improvement. Benjamin Franklin,
in his article "The Morals of Chess" (1750), wrote:
"The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the
mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to
become habits ready on all occasions; for life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points
to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with, and in which there is a vast variety
of good and ill events, that are, in some degree, the effect of prudence, or the want of it.
By playing Chess then, we may learn:
I Foresight, which looks a little into futurity, and considers the consequences that
may attend an action;
II Circumspection, which surveys the whole Chess-board, or scene of action: - the relation
of the several Pieces, and their situations;
III Caution, not to make our moves too hastily.

According to a Chess Master (unknown): “The Chessboard is the World, the Pieces are the
Phenomena of the Universe, the Rules of the Game are what we call the Laws of Nature. The Player on
the other side is hidden from us. We all know that he always play fair, just and patient but we also know,
to our costs that he never overlooks a mistake or makes a smallest allowance for ignorance.”

Many top chess players began learning chess before the age of 8. Some as early as 4years
of age. GM Eugene Torre began at 6. If your child shows interest, then teach them the rules of
chess. The game of chess has many parallels in life. Seize the opportunity to teach chess and
life. Show how adults win graciously and lose with dignity.

The Department of Education Memorandum to include chess in the elementary curriculum is a

welcome development and will help improve the child’s ability to analyze, diligence and discipline to
study and excel in many aspects.

HOW CAN THE CHILD/STUDENT START TO IMPROVE THEIR GAMES

Chess is a game of tactics, strategy, tactics, psychology, and tactics – all aspects must be
learned. There is no simple way to learn chess. Tactics are relatively easy to learn by solving
tactical exercises. Some illustrations are provided in this workbook. After becoming proficient
in tactics, beginners should learn the positional elements of chess and their relationship to tactics,
pawn structure and middle game planning. It is also valuable to learn basic endgames.
The child must be encouraged to engage in friendly matches among their peers. If
financially sound, students must have their own chess sets and chess books. Quizzes and
assignments must be checked and solutions be given in the next meeting. To further improve
their game, they must play in tournaments, at first, in their age group level.
Some students may be fast learners and they should be given special attention as they
may want more than the present lesson. They must be further trained and be given advance
lesson/s.

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