Today strategy games are everywhere. When I was in high school I remember playing and enjoying Dune 2 and Seige. Before then I played games like Warsong. Then came all manner of "Tactics" games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Ogre Battle, La Pucelle, even Romance ot the Three Kingdoms Tactics. Nowadays games like Warcraft dominate the strategy market.
The hunger for strategy games lives on, and their popularity is not difficult to discover. Strategy games force you to think and plan. They force you to fight for survival and use your mind.
But with all the strategy games on the market, if a game like Chess suddenly appeared how would it rate? What might a game review of chess soung like now?
Greg Kasavin attempts to answer that question with his review.
This tongue-in-cheeck review appeals to my sense of humour, but is also very telling. Even in a world of Warcraft (pun intended) the original game of chess stands on its own. Because in the end chess isn't just a strategy game, "Chess is life."
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Shah mat! The king is... dead?
The term checkmate is derived from the phrase shah mat. Shah means king-- think of the Shah of Iran-- and mat means...
Well, most sources will tell you that mat means dead. So Shah mat means "the king is dead." In Arabic this translation holds true.
The problem though is that in chess the king is never actually killed. The other pieces die, a pawn or a knight might be killed, but the king is only at most placed into a position in which escape is impossible, he is never killed.
"The king is dead" is simply not the correct translation.
Part of the misunderstanding stems from the fact that chess arrived in Europe from the Arabs. They introduced chess and therefore we adopted the words they used and took their translation.
Another problem is that in English the names are different. We say Checkmate, but the piece is the king, not the "check." The words we use bear no similarity with the actual piece anymore.
The truth though is that chess came to the Arabs by way of the Persians. And in Persian Shah Mat means something slightly different. Shah still means king, but mat means helpless or defeated.
So shah mat actually means "The king is helpless."
And that makes a lot more sense when it comes to chess. The king doesn't die, he is simply rendered helpless.
Long live the king!
Well, most sources will tell you that mat means dead. So Shah mat means "the king is dead." In Arabic this translation holds true.
The problem though is that in chess the king is never actually killed. The other pieces die, a pawn or a knight might be killed, but the king is only at most placed into a position in which escape is impossible, he is never killed.
"The king is dead" is simply not the correct translation.
Part of the misunderstanding stems from the fact that chess arrived in Europe from the Arabs. They introduced chess and therefore we adopted the words they used and took their translation.
Another problem is that in English the names are different. We say Checkmate, but the piece is the king, not the "check." The words we use bear no similarity with the actual piece anymore.
The truth though is that chess came to the Arabs by way of the Persians. And in Persian Shah Mat means something slightly different. Shah still means king, but mat means helpless or defeated.
So shah mat actually means "The king is helpless."
And that makes a lot more sense when it comes to chess. The king doesn't die, he is simply rendered helpless.
Long live the king!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Black Queen
This was a note I posted on Facebook that also works as my blog post. It is a joint memoir of myself and the character from my novel, Bayrd Anstal:
I hated her when I first met her.
It was nothing she did either... or well, part of it was, but mostly it was about who she was spending time with. I mistakenly thought he was her boyfriend. The fact that he wasn't didn't change the fact that she spent time with this guy. "Tell me who thy company is and I will tell thee who thou art."
So I came to the conclusion that she was a pompous, rude person. He was undeniably intelligent, and I could see that she was as well. I'm no idiot myself, I am drawn to intellectual people, but the arrogance and overweening personality of this guy repulsed me.
There was one major problem.
She was gorgeous. I disliked the girl, but couldn't help but keep an eye on her. And then she started showing up among my circle of friends, she was there in some of the same activities I did, she was in, what I would now call Black Territory, but I would have considered her little more than a white pawn, bishop at best.
Little did I know that she would undeniably become the Black Queen.
This is eternally significant. She was the Black Queen. Not at any point did Jennifer become the Black Queen. While that might sound harsh, keep in mind that in this game of chess (life) the King and Queen are not necessarily romantically involved. In Neville's books the Black Queen marries the Black Knight, the Black Bishop marries the White Queen, (a different) Black Queen marries (a different) White King... position on the board does not dictate a relationship between pieces.
Bayrd-- In a moment of personal tragedy she was the one that carried me through it all, the one that empathized and made herself available. In the strength of her love, love for someone that hated her, she changed my heart.
DXW-- I am not even sure when it happened or how. As I saw her more and more I began to see her distinctly for who she was and learned to not associate her with that pompoous, arrogant attitude I assumed she had. She was actually, intelligent, sweet, funny, and just fun to be with. And did I mention she was gorgeous?
Then one day she passed me a letter. I will never forget it because it said plainly, "I love you." In that moment I was transfigured. With those three words my heart melted.
Bayrd and DXW-- In the months that followed the relationship grew. She was amazing. There was no one I would have rather spent time with. Even now she is rarely far from thought or mind. She and I shared deep secrets and concerns, we beared our souls to each other. I may have never been so bluntly honest about my feelings and who I was with any other human being in my life. And the times that I held something back, she knew it all as if she could read my mind.
Then tragedy struck, and I didn't see her again. That was when my (our?) life (lives?) changed forever.
OK, joint memoir idea was a little odd. But I hope point made. Judging someone before getting to know them nearly cost me the strongest piece on my board, and poorly handling personal tragedy removed the piece.
The story is deliberately left hanging. Bayrd's story will be finished in the novel. The story of my life isn't written to completion yet.
I hated her when I first met her.
It was nothing she did either... or well, part of it was, but mostly it was about who she was spending time with. I mistakenly thought he was her boyfriend. The fact that he wasn't didn't change the fact that she spent time with this guy. "Tell me who thy company is and I will tell thee who thou art."
So I came to the conclusion that she was a pompous, rude person. He was undeniably intelligent, and I could see that she was as well. I'm no idiot myself, I am drawn to intellectual people, but the arrogance and overweening personality of this guy repulsed me.
There was one major problem.
She was gorgeous. I disliked the girl, but couldn't help but keep an eye on her. And then she started showing up among my circle of friends, she was there in some of the same activities I did, she was in, what I would now call Black Territory, but I would have considered her little more than a white pawn, bishop at best.
Little did I know that she would undeniably become the Black Queen.
This is eternally significant. She was the Black Queen. Not at any point did Jennifer become the Black Queen. While that might sound harsh, keep in mind that in this game of chess (life) the King and Queen are not necessarily romantically involved. In Neville's books the Black Queen marries the Black Knight, the Black Bishop marries the White Queen, (a different) Black Queen marries (a different) White King... position on the board does not dictate a relationship between pieces.
Bayrd-- In a moment of personal tragedy she was the one that carried me through it all, the one that empathized and made herself available. In the strength of her love, love for someone that hated her, she changed my heart.
DXW-- I am not even sure when it happened or how. As I saw her more and more I began to see her distinctly for who she was and learned to not associate her with that pompoous, arrogant attitude I assumed she had. She was actually, intelligent, sweet, funny, and just fun to be with. And did I mention she was gorgeous?
Then one day she passed me a letter. I will never forget it because it said plainly, "I love you." In that moment I was transfigured. With those three words my heart melted.
Bayrd and DXW-- In the months that followed the relationship grew. She was amazing. There was no one I would have rather spent time with. Even now she is rarely far from thought or mind. She and I shared deep secrets and concerns, we beared our souls to each other. I may have never been so bluntly honest about my feelings and who I was with any other human being in my life. And the times that I held something back, she knew it all as if she could read my mind.
Then tragedy struck, and I didn't see her again. That was when my (our?) life (lives?) changed forever.
OK, joint memoir idea was a little odd. But I hope point made. Judging someone before getting to know them nearly cost me the strongest piece on my board, and poorly handling personal tragedy removed the piece.
The story is deliberately left hanging. Bayrd's story will be finished in the novel. The story of my life isn't written to completion yet.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Black and White part two
Both black and white believe their cause to be just. They believe that they are upholding righteousness in their struggle. White is always the aggressor however. White always takes the first move. Black then is on the defensive.
White reflects the light, black absorbs it. Either can be seen as righteous.
In the end though, there remains that duality. Not only is there White in Black Territory and vice-versa, but when a pawn successfully travels to the edges of the opposing territory they are transfigured and become more powerful.
Only by understanding your enemy do you ever understand yourself. How can you ever understand your own position if you don't understand the contra? By embracing this duality the weakest piece can become the most powerfull.
There is white and black in everything. Duality all around us. I was the White Knight, then the Black Knight, and finally the Black King. Amd now I understand that white, black-- its all the same. In one is the other.
Two righteous forces on the field, fighting a manifestation of a part of themselves. No wonder so many matches can only end in stalemate.
White reflects the light, black absorbs it. Either can be seen as righteous.
In the end though, there remains that duality. Not only is there White in Black Territory and vice-versa, but when a pawn successfully travels to the edges of the opposing territory they are transfigured and become more powerful.
Only by understanding your enemy do you ever understand yourself. How can you ever understand your own position if you don't understand the contra? By embracing this duality the weakest piece can become the most powerfull.
There is white and black in everything. Duality all around us. I was the White Knight, then the Black Knight, and finally the Black King. Amd now I understand that white, black-- its all the same. In one is the other.
Two righteous forces on the field, fighting a manifestation of a part of themselves. No wonder so many matches can only end in stalemate.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Black and White part one
Sixty-four squares on the chess board. It is upon that field that the classic battle of white versus black plays out. Those sixty-four squares alternate between black and white in a checkered pattern, balanced with thirty-two squares bearing each color.
Which means that, ironically, "Black Territory" has eight white squares and "White Territory" has eight black squares.
While this is a non-issue regularly overlooked and barely worth noting, it is infinately significant in a consideration of the duality of black and white on the chess board and in life.
In the Western World we have come to associate white with good and black with bad. Sadly, life is simply not that "black and white." There is a duality at play in most everything in our lives. The black team must embrace white and the white team black... with one exception.
The bishops. They adamantely sit on their one color and do not deviate. You might be compelled to think of them as the metaphorical angel and devil on the shoulder, whispering their advice and influence, BUT that would be accepting the idea that white is good and black is bad.
And that is simply not the case.
Which means that, ironically, "Black Territory" has eight white squares and "White Territory" has eight black squares.
While this is a non-issue regularly overlooked and barely worth noting, it is infinately significant in a consideration of the duality of black and white on the chess board and in life.
In the Western World we have come to associate white with good and black with bad. Sadly, life is simply not that "black and white." There is a duality at play in most everything in our lives. The black team must embrace white and the white team black... with one exception.
The bishops. They adamantely sit on their one color and do not deviate. You might be compelled to think of them as the metaphorical angel and devil on the shoulder, whispering their advice and influence, BUT that would be accepting the idea that white is good and black is bad.
And that is simply not the case.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Zugzwang
There just comes a time where either way you are screwed. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Zugzwang occurs when a player has no move that will not worsen his or her position. The player must make a move, but every possible move places the player in danger. It's a matter of determining the lesser of the bad options, taking it, and working towards strengthening your position in the future.
I recently had to pay some bills that were the ex's. My name was on em, even though they were her debts. I am not in a position where I can afford to be so generous even if I really wanted to, but my options were essentially pay the bills or destroy my credit.
Zugzwang. No matter what option I took it was going to hurt. I paid the bils. This is not the first time and it probably won't be the last.
Tonigt I went out to volunteer with some of the students I work with. In order to do this I had to miss a major rock show with a beautiful young woman. My zugwang options were to either miss the concert or fail the students. I chose to do my volunteer work with the students and guess what?
I had a great time. I was reminded tonight why I do this volunteer work. I had been growing disheartened about it all but I am thrilled to have been able to work with amazing students and to hang out with them afterwards. And the woman? I will see her at another show tomorrow. She was one of the new pawns the other night, perhaps she can make the center board tomorrow night?
Sometimes it looks like zugzwang, but there are those few times that doing the right thing makes everything work out in the end.
Zugzwang occurs when a player has no move that will not worsen his or her position. The player must make a move, but every possible move places the player in danger. It's a matter of determining the lesser of the bad options, taking it, and working towards strengthening your position in the future.
I recently had to pay some bills that were the ex's. My name was on em, even though they were her debts. I am not in a position where I can afford to be so generous even if I really wanted to, but my options were essentially pay the bills or destroy my credit.
Zugzwang. No matter what option I took it was going to hurt. I paid the bils. This is not the first time and it probably won't be the last.
Tonigt I went out to volunteer with some of the students I work with. In order to do this I had to miss a major rock show with a beautiful young woman. My zugwang options were to either miss the concert or fail the students. I chose to do my volunteer work with the students and guess what?
I had a great time. I was reminded tonight why I do this volunteer work. I had been growing disheartened about it all but I am thrilled to have been able to work with amazing students and to hang out with them afterwards. And the woman? I will see her at another show tomorrow. She was one of the new pawns the other night, perhaps she can make the center board tomorrow night?
Sometimes it looks like zugzwang, but there are those few times that doing the right thing makes everything work out in the end.
Friday, April 1, 2011
En Passant
Sometimes the best laid plans just go wrong.
Ever feel like you are getting on your feet and just starting to move forward only to find that even such a simple little attempt sets you even further behind?
En Passant occurs when a pawn moves forward two spaces from its starting position, coming to rest in a square beside a pawn of an the opposing color. The enemy pawn may attack diagonally forward into the position that the pawn would have had to move through and legally capture the pawn. En Passant means "In passing" in french. The pawn is captured in passing.
Life is full of these En Passant moments. Despite the best laid plans, something happens in passing to set us back. The best strategic move would have been to not move that pawn at all. Sometimes we just have to wait until the time is right,
Sometimes I need to wait until someone worth being around makes me move. I am content with my bishops, knights, and rooks. There is no queen, but pushing a pawn across the board at this point is suicide, En Passant. Black is not ready for a queen, the field can still be managed and won missing that piece.
Chess is life, life is Chess. And in life, just as in Chess, the game must go on.
Ever feel like you are getting on your feet and just starting to move forward only to find that even such a simple little attempt sets you even further behind?
En Passant occurs when a pawn moves forward two spaces from its starting position, coming to rest in a square beside a pawn of an the opposing color. The enemy pawn may attack diagonally forward into the position that the pawn would have had to move through and legally capture the pawn. En Passant means "In passing" in french. The pawn is captured in passing.
Life is full of these En Passant moments. Despite the best laid plans, something happens in passing to set us back. The best strategic move would have been to not move that pawn at all. Sometimes we just have to wait until the time is right,
Sometimes I need to wait until someone worth being around makes me move. I am content with my bishops, knights, and rooks. There is no queen, but pushing a pawn across the board at this point is suicide, En Passant. Black is not ready for a queen, the field can still be managed and won missing that piece.
Chess is life, life is Chess. And in life, just as in Chess, the game must go on.
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