[originaltext] Chess must be one of the oldest games in the world. An Arab t

Chess must be one of the oldest games in the world. An Arab traveler in India in the year 900 wrote that it was played "long long ago". Chess was probably invented in India, and it has been played everywhere in the world, from Asia to Europe, from America to Africa ever since 1400. The name "chess" is interesting. When one player is attacking the other’s king, he says in English "check mate". These words came from the Persian words of "Shan mat", which means "the king is dead". That is when the game is over, and one player has won.
    Though such an old game changes very slowly, its present rules haven’t always been the same as they used to. For example, at one time the queen could only move one square at a time. Now she is the strongest piece on the board. It would be interesting to know why this has happened.
    Chess takes time and thought, but it is a game for all kinds of people. You don’t have to be a champion in order to enjoy it. Nor is it always played by two people sitting at the same table. What’s more, some of the chess masters are able to play many people at the same time. It is also said that some people play chess by post, which must make chess the slowest game in the world.