# Indian chess

Indian chess is the name given to regional variations of chess played in India in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is distinct from chaturanga. There are several such variations, all quite similar to modern rules, with variants regarding castling, pawn promotion, etc.

## Differences from Western chess

* Both kings are placed on the right of the queens at the beginning of the game, unlike western chess where the black king is to the left of the queen.
* The pawn's two-step initial move is absent in Indian chess; thus, the en passant capture is also absent.
* Normal castling with rook and king is absent. The unchecked king can make a knight's move once in a game, known as Indian castling or king's leap.
* On reaching the opposite end of the board, a pawn is promoted to a piece of the type that began on that square. If it is promoted on the king's initial position, it is promoted a queen.
* If there is one piece remaining other than the kings, it may not be captured. Alternatively, it may be captured unless it is a pawn.
* When only the kings and pawns are left in play, the opponent may not give check, but they can win by stalemate. Alternatively, giving check is allowed, but the capture of the last pawn (which would result in a draw) is disallowed.
* The king cannot move unless at least one check has been given, though this is a regional variation.

## Names of the pieces

The following table describes one version of Indian chess terminology for the various pieces (including Hindi and Urdu pronunciations; orange indicates most common terminology in Hindi, green indicates that in Urdu):
| Standard chess piece | Indian chess piece | Indian chess piece | Indian chess piece | Indian chess piece | Indian chess piece | Indian chess piece | Indian chess piece | Indian chess piece | |
| Standard chess piece | English | Hindi | Urdu | ISO 15919 | Other | Telugu | Malayalam | Tamil | Assamese |
| king | king | राजा | راجا | rājā | | రాజు | രാജാവ് | ராஜா | ৰজা |
| king | king | बादशाह | بادشاہ | bādśāh | | రాజు | രാജാവ് | ராஜா | ৰজা |
| queen | ferz/minister | मन्त्री | منتری | mantrī | | మంత్రి | മന്ത്രി | | মন্ত্ৰী |
| queen | ferz/minister | वज़ीर | وزیر | vazīr | | మంత్రి | മന്ത്രി | | মন্ত্ৰী |
| queen | queen | रानी | رانی | rānī | | | | ராணி / அரசி | ৰাণী |
| queen | queen | मलिका | ملکہ | malikā | | | | ராணி / அரசி | ৰাণী |
| queen | general | सेनापति | سیناپتی | sēnāpati | | | | | |
| rook | rook/chariot | रथ | رتھ | rath | | | തേര് | | নাওঁ |
| rook | rook/chariot | रुख़ | رخ | rux | rukkha | | തേര് | | নাওঁ |
| rook | castle | क़िला | قلعہ | qilā | | | | கோட்டை | নাওঁ |
| rook | elephant | हाथी | ہاتھی | hāthī | hattī | ఏనుగు | | யானை | নাওঁ |
| knight | horse | घोड़ा | گھوڑا | ghōṛā | | గుర్రం | കുതിര | குதிரை | ঘোঁৰা |
| bishop | alfil/elephant | फ़ियला | فیلہ | fiyalā/fīlā | | | ആന | | হাতী |
| bishop | camel | ऊँट | اونٹ | ū̃ṭ | | | | | হাতী |
| bishop | chariot | | | | | శకటు/ఒంటె | | | হাতী |
| bishop | minister | | | | | | | அமைச்சர் | হাতী |
| pawn | infantryman | पैदल | پیدل | paidal | | | കാലാള്‍ / പടയാളി | காலாள் | পুণী |
| pawn | infantryman | प्यादा | پیادہ | pyādā | | | കാലാള്‍ / പടയാളി | காலாள் | পুণী |
| pawn | soldier | सैनिक | سینک | sainik | | సిపాయి | | சிப்பாய் | পুণী |
| pawn | soldier | सिपाही | سپاہی | sipāhī | | సిపాయి | | சிப்பாய் | পুণী |