The history of chess spans over a millennium, evolving from ancient strategy games into one of the world’s most intellectual and enduring pastimes. Its origins trace back to northern India around the 6th century, where it was known as chaturanga, a game representing the four divisions of the Indian army—infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots. From India, the game spread to Persia, becoming shatranj, and after the Islamic conquest, it traveled to the Arab world and eventually into Europe through trade and cultural exchange. By the Middle Ages, chess had gained immense popularity among European nobility, and its rules gradually evolved into the modern version known today. The most significant changes occurred in the late 15th century, when pieces like the queen and bishop gained their powerful moves, transforming the game into a faster and more dynamic contest. The 19th century saw the rise of organized tournaments, official world championships, and standardized rules. In the 20th and 21st centuries, chess expanded globally with the help of computers and the internet, introducing new analytical tools and online competitions that revolutionized how the game is studied and played. Today, chess remains both an art and a science, symbolizing strategy, intellect, and the universal human fascination with challenge and mastery.
All of the book titles that are included in this DVD are listed as follows:
The History of Chess from the time of the early invention of the game in India to its Establishment in Western and Central Europe by Duncan Forbes 1860
Chess Made Easy by George Walker 1839
Chess-humanics - A Philosophy of Chess a Social Allegory, Parallelism Between the Game of Chess and our Larger Human Affairs by Wallace E Neville 1905
Chess for Beginners In a Series of Progressive Lessons - The Most Approved Methods for Beginning and Ending the Game, with Various Situations and Checkmates by William Lewis 1837
Chess and War, article in The Eclectic Magazine 1871
Chess Openings for Beginners by Edward Ernest Cunnington 1900 (with Illustrations)
The Modern Chess Instructor by W Steinitz 1889
The Psychology of Chess, article in The American Journal of Psychology 1907
Chess for Beginners by RB Swinton 1891
The Chess Primer (with Illustrations) by William Cook 1880
Chess by David Mitchell 1917 (with Illustrations)
Chess Gems - Some of the Finest Examples of Chess Strategy by Ancient and Modern Masters by John A Miles 1860
Chess Fundamentals by Jose Raul Capablanca 1921 (with Illustrations)
The Art of Chess by James Mason 1895 (with Illustrations)
The Chess-Player's Handbook (with Illustrations) by Howard Staunton 1890 *
The Chess-player's Hand-book Containing a Full Account of the Game of Chess by Pierce Saxton 1844 *
Practical Chess Grammar by WS Kenny 1817 (with Illustrations)
Practical Chess Exercises Intended as a sequel to the practical chess grammar containing various openings, games, and situations for the use of those who have already a knowledge of the game by WS Kenney 1818 (with Illustrations)
Problems in Chess by John Wilkinson 1876 (with Illustrations)
Book of Chess Problems by John K. Hanshew 1874 (with Illustrations)
One Hundred Chess Problems by Arthur Cyril Pearson 1883 (with Illustrations)
A Treatise on the Game of Chess by William Lewis 1844 (containing an introduction to the game, and an analysis of the various openings of games, with several new modes of attack and defence to which are added 25 new chess problems on diagrams)
Mathematical Recreations and Essays by WW Rouse Ball 1920
Pollock Memories: A Collection of Chess Games, Problems by William Henry Krause Pollock 1899
Common Sense in Chess by Emanuel Lasker 1910
The Grand Tactics of Chess, an Exposition of the Laws and Principles of Chess Strategetics, the practical application of these laws and principles to the movement of forces; mobilization, development, manoeuvre, and operation by Franklin Young 1898
The Minor Tactics of Chess - a treatise on the development of the forces in obedience to strategic principle by FK young 1901
Chess Match Between Steinitz & Blackburne 1876 (William Steinitz was an Austrian and then American chess player and the first undisputed world chess champion from 1886 to 1894. From the 1870s onwards, commentators have debated whether Steinitz was effectively the champion earlier. Steinitz lost his title to Emanuel Lasker in 1894 and also lost a rematch in 1897)
Amusements in Mathematics by Henry E Dudeney 1917 (Chessboard Problems, The Chessboard, Statical Chess Puzzles, The Guarded Chessboard, Dynamical Chess Puzzles, Various Chess) Puzzles
Chess World Magazine 1868 (first 319 pages only)
Fifty Games at Chess which have actually been Played by W Lewis 1821
Chess problems by George E Carpenter 1886 (with Illustrations)
The Court-Gamester - Full and easy instructions for playing the games now in vogue 1722 by Richard Seymour
An easy introduction to the game of chess by Benjamin Franklin 1816
Morphy's Games of Chess by Paul Charles Morphy 1898
Scientific Amusements in philosophy and mathematics by William Enfield 1821 (To make the knight pass overall the squares of the chess board, without passing twice over the same)
Japanese Chess (shogni): the science and Art of War or Struggle by Cho-yo 1905
Chess Chips - Consisting of Anecdotes, essays and games by J. Paul Taylor 1878
Checkmate by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (Mystery writer) 1898
Philosophy in sport made science in earnest by John Ayrton Paris 1827
The New Century Chess-book and Companion to the Chess Player's Pocket-book by James Mortimer 1901
The Chess-player's Companion by Howard Staunton 1849
Studies of chess by Peter Pratt, Volume 1, 1814*
Studies of chess by Peter Pratt, Volume 2, 1814
The Book of Chess containing the rudiments of the game, and elementary analyses of the most popular openings by HR Agnel 1858
Chess Sparks - Short and bright games of chess by John Henry Ellis 1895
Memorable Chess Games, brilliants and miniatures, with notes, queries and answers by W Moffatt 1913
Chess: Theory & Practice- containing the laws & history of the game together with an analysis of the openings, & a treatise of end games by Howard Staunton 1876
Analysis of the Game of Chess by FD Philidor 1824
Other games:
A bibliography of card-games.pdf
contents.txt
Draw. Rules for playing poker.pdf
Entertaining with cards.pdf
Jack pots.pdf
Poker boiled down.pdf
Revised Edition of Hoyles Games.pdf
Talk of Uncle George to his nephew about draw poker.pdf
The abc of bridge.pdf
The American card player.pdf
The game of draw poker.pdf
A complete guide to the game of draughts-checkers.pdf
Checker classics.pdf
Checkers - Mitchell.pdf
Checkers a treatise on the game.pdf
Checkers improved.pdf
Checkers- worlds championship match games.pdf
Checkers.pdf
contents.txt
The checker primer.pdf
The elements of draughts.pdf
Vocabulary of checkers.pdf