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.

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