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Chaturanga

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description Chaturanga Overview

Chaturanga is an early Indian strategy board game generally regarded as an important ancestor of chess and related games such as shatranj. Its army represented four military divisions: infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots, corresponding broadly to the modern pawn, knight, bishop, and rook. The historical game was played by two opponents, while four-player versions are later related forms rather than the standard original arrangement.

help Chaturanga FAQ

What did the four divisions in Chaturanga represent?

The name refers to four parts of an Indian army: infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots. Those roles are commonly linked to the later pawn, knight, bishop, and rook, although the exact ancient rules are not fully known. [Chaturanga history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaturanga)

Was Chaturanga played on the same board as modern chess?

It was associated with the 8 by 8 ashtapada board, but historical boards were typically uncheckered and had markings whose meaning is uncertain. The board was familiar, but the rules were not the same as FIDE chess. [Chaturanga rules](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaturanga)

How is Chaturanga connected to shatranj and modern chess?

The usual historical chain runs from Indian chaturanga to Persian chatrang, later called shatranj, and then to chess traditions that spread into Europe. Historians regard the relationship as strong, but not every step or rule can be reconstructed with certainty. [History of chess](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_chess)

What moves differently in Chaturanga than in modern chess?

The gaja, or elephant piece, is the main source of uncertainty, and it did not move like the modern bishop. The padati infantry piece also lacked chess's initial two-square advance in common reconstructions. [Historical Chaturanga rules](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaturanga)

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