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Evidence for Shatranj al-Mustatila
1 pieces of evidence found.
Id DLP.Evidence.1406
Type Contemporary rule description
Location 33°19'16.16"N, 44°25'5.05"E
Date 1140-01-01 - 1140-12-31
Rules 4x16 board. The pieces move as follows, with the number per player: 1 x Shah (king): moves one space orthogonally or diagonally. 1 x Fers (counselor): One square diagonally. 2 x Rukh (rook): Any number of spaces orthogonally. 2 x Pil (elephant): Two squares diagonally, jumping over the first. Cannot capture another Pil. 2 x Asb (horse): Moves as a chess knight. 8 x Sarbaz (soldier): Moves one space forward orthogonally; one space forward diagonally to capture. No en passant. Promoted to Fers when reaching the sixteenth rank. Pieces are placed with the Shah and Fers in the center of the row closest to the player (Shah to the right), a Pil on either side of them, the Asb on the two center squares in the second row, flanked by the Rukh, and the Sarbaz on the fifth and sixth rows. Movement of the pieces is determined by one six-sided die, with the following throws: 6=Shah, 5= Fers, 4= Pil, 3= Asb, 2=Rukh, 1- Sarbaz. No castling. Stalemate results in win for player causing it. When the Shah is in check, the opponent must roll a 6 for it to escape. The player who checkmates the Shah wins.
Content Manuscript 560 'Abd al-Hamid I library, Istanbul. Written by Abu Ishaq Ibrahim bin al-Mubarak bin 'Ali al-Mudhahhab al Baghdadi in 1140. Contains portions of al-'Adli's Kitab ash-shatranj and as-Suli's Kitab ash-shtranj: "This is the chess which is lengthened from Indian chess. It contains 4 rows of 16 squares. It is played with the dice used for nard. It is a rule that the arrangement is according to the right hand, with the Fils in the corners. It is a rule that 6 mves thw Shah, 5 the Firzan, 4 the Fil, 3 the Faras, 2 the Rukh, and 1 the Baidaq. It is a rule that when check happens to either Shah, he must play by the die, and cannot play at all until the die gives a 6. VB this he rescues the Shah." Also with diagram of opening pieces. Murray 1913: 171–172.
Confidence 100
Ages Adult
Social status Nobility
Genders Male
Source Murray, H. J. R. 1913. A History of Chess. London: Oxford University Press.
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