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Chess Day
“There is no remorse like the remorse of chess.” ~ H. G. Wells
There is a sequence of moves called the "Scotch Game," or "Scotch Opening," a chess opening that was popular in the 19th century and has regained popularity.
International Chess Day is celebrated annually on July 20th, the day the International Chess Federation (FIDE) was founded, in 1924.
Chess is believed to have originated in India, some time before the 7th century, derived from the Indian game of Chaturanga. The pieces took on their current powers in Spain in the late 15th century, and the rules were finally standardized in the 19th century.
FIDE awards titles to skilled players, the highest of which is grandmaster.
Chess is a recognized sport of the International Olympic Committee and was included in the 2006 and 2010 Asian Games.
Designed by Graham A Robieson (Dunfermline) for use by all chess lovers, this tartan's colours are based on strategy: the black and white standard colours for the two opposing sides; two equal lines for fairness and sportsmanship; and dark green and dark blue for the concept of battle.
Interestingly, there is a sequence of moves called the "Scotch Game," or "Scotch Opening," a chess opening that begins with the moves:
1. e4 e5 (pawn goes to e4, another pawn goes to e5)
2. Nf3 Nc6 (Knight goes to f3, another Knight goes to c6)
Ercole del Rio, in his 1750 treatise "On the game of Chess, Practical Observations by an anonymous Modenese Author", was the first author to mention what is now called the Scotch Game. The opening received its name from a correspondence match in 1824 between Edinburgh and London.
Popular in the 19th century, by 1900 the Scotch had lost favour among top players because it was thought to release the central tension too early and allow Black to equalise without difficulty.
However, more recently, grandmasters Garry Kasparov and Jan Timman helped to re-popularize the Scotch Game when they used it as a surprise weapon to avoid the well-analysed Ruy Lopez (or Spanish Game).
For more about the Scotch Game, click the black knight on the board.