Chess and draughts history

[Arie van der Stoep]

In the year 2026 Harold Murray’s ideas about the history of chess
(1913) are the standard. In 1975 I started a quest for the history of
chess and draughts together. Only in 2025, after 50 years, my research
was completed. Points by points my major findings.

1. Draughts is about 5 centuries older than chess.
2. Chess arose from draughts.
3. Until the 18th c., chess was played under the strong influence of
draughts. See e.g. Philidor 1749 (French) and 1750 (English ed.) p.
XVII.
The 15th c. change of the chess rules took place under the influence
of draughts.
4. First European chess was dice chess, played by the lowest caste in
obscure pubs.
5. Only now and then noblemen played chess.
6. In the Middle Ages draughts was generally played. Its social
position had much more importance than chess.
7. About 1900, chess gained the upper hand. A pan-European
sociological prejudice occurred that is still current. In his
judgement about chess and draughts the common man was influenced by
what in the psychology is called halo and horn. Halo: the individual
leans towards to judge on the positive presence of a person. Members
of a chess club are minds, chess is a mental exercise. The horn
phenomenon works negatively: members of a draughts club are doers,
draughts demand little mental power.

The book, Dutch title "Schaken, dammen, molenspel en triktrak",
printed on glazed paper, 424 pages, contains 534 full colour
reproductions. My question: the results of my investigations, are they
confirmed by visual arts? Enclosed an unknown chess painting, a
portrait of count Juan Batista de Santana with his sister, proving the
social status of draughts in the highest circles about c. 1800.

The book, a pdf included, costs 45 euro for EU countries. A pdf only
costs 30 euro. The pdf allows to translate the text. Write Wim van
Mourik: wavan...@planet.nl.

Dr. Arie van der Stoep, historical linguist.

2 bijlagen • Gescand door Gmail

[Sultan Ratrout]

Thank you very much for your efforts and findings. Much appreciated.

[Arie van der Stoep]

Dear Sultan,

Thank you for the repetition of my message. I make use of the
opportunity to point out that the Dutch book "Schaken, dammen,
molenspel en triktrak. Een Nederlands/Vlaamse cultuurgeschiedenis",
Middelburg November 2025, authors Wim van Mourik, Jan de Ruiter and
the writer of this email is the fundamental reply from the side of the
draughts community to Murray 1913. Murray: chess has always been a
European major game, draughts is a spring off of chess.
Results of my research from the period 1975-2025: draughts has always
been a European major game, chess a minor game; chess is a spring off
of draughts.
For this reason the 2025 book is a standard work, like Murray 1913 is
a standard work.

Continually, my argument is supported by paintings and drawings: the
book has 534 full colour reproductions. The Flemish Michael Sweerts
(1618-1664) made this painting about 1656, a prosperous couple from
Brussels playing draughts. She has a fan, proof of richdom. There is
no painting days with chess players from these days,: chess was a
minor game, seldom played in Flanders or in other European countries.

To buy the book with its splendid reproductions write
wavan...@planet.nl. A pdf is included, allowing you to translate
the text.

Dr. Arie van der Stoep, historian linguist


Op za 14 feb 2026 om 20:35 schreef 'Sultan Ratrout' via bgs4ever
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