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Shatranj (Ancient Chess) Strategy and Tips

Here is how to think about winning at Shatranj (Ancient Chess), split into short lessons. Each one reads on its own, and each one comes with a real position: press Try it on the board and you play the move yourself.

Bring Rukhs out early

Lesson 1

Open Baidaq files so your Rukhs can slide.

Before developing a Rukh, advance the Baidaq in front of it to open space. A clear file lets it work across the board. Before taking a piece, check whether a Faras or Alfil attacks the destination. Two Rukhs can protect one another along a rank or file, so a capture can be answered. Use your Rukh to restrict the Shah’s escapes as well as to give check.

In this exercise the Rukh travels from a1 to a4. Both intervening squares are empty, and an enemy occupies a4. Compare the board with the captured-piece record after the move.

Eight squares for an Alfil

Lesson 2

Each Alfil reaches eight squares of one color. Use both to guard both colors.

An intervening friendly or enemy piece does not stop the jump, but a friendly piece on the destination does. In the information diagram, inspect the rings two diagonal squares from the center. Work out the next reachable squares from the actual position. Alfils stay on their own square color. Rukhs and Faras can cover gaps they cannot reach. Count the two-square jumps rather than assuming that a distant piece on the diagonal can be taken immediately.

In this exercise the Alfil jumps from d3 to f5. Compare the landing square with the information diagram’s rings; the intervening square never stops that jump.

Advance Baidaqs together

Lesson 3

Use adjacent files to cover each other and promote to Ferzes.

A lone advancing Baidaq can be attacked from either side. An adjacent Baidaq can cover a diagonal square in front of it. Separate the forward move from the capture: an occupied square directly ahead blocks movement, while an enemy diagonally ahead can be taken. A promoted Ferz still has short range, moving only one diagonal step. Before promoting, inspect the squares it will be able to protect and whether the opponent could immediately capture it.

The a7 to a8 move immediately changes the Baidaq’s picture and label into a Ferz. Inspect its diagonal destinations afterwards and compare them with its earlier forward step.

Exchanges approach a bare Shah

Lesson 4

Check both remaining counts before trading pieces.

As exchanges reduce both armies, the last non-Shah piece becomes decisive. Even an apparently equal Rukh exchange can leave your other pieces vulnerable. Compare both remaining counts in the strip before capturing. The Shah is excluded from these numbers. If the opponent has one piece left, check whether taking it wins immediately or lets its Shah capture your own last piece back. With no legal counter the game ends on that move; with a counter it waits one final reply.

The Alfil on f8 is the opponent’s final non-Shah piece. After taking it, compare the zero on the strip with the bare Shah on the board.

Protect the last piece

Lesson 5

Before you have one piece left, check whether your Shah could capture back.

In this exercise the Shah on e7 guards f8. When your Rukh takes the last opposing Alfil, Black’s Shah cannot safely capture that Rukh back. Merely putting your last piece near the Shah is not enough: the Shah must actually defend its destination. A side in check must also answer check before it can counter. Start examining the final exchange while two pieces remain, including the destination and all adjacent squares the opposing Shah can reach.

Before the capture, inspect the one diagonal step from e7 to f8. Black’s Shah can reach f8 too, but cannot safely capture a piece on a square guarded by White.

Keep moves available

Lesson 6

Stalemate loses by default. Leave an escape for your Shah or a move for another piece.

The number of pieces is not the only limit; destinations matter too. Blocked Baidaqs and friendly pieces on Ferz or Alfil destinations can leave only the Shah able to move. If the opponent then controls its escapes, you lose even without check. When only a few moves remain, compare the strip’s number with the empty squares on the board. Check answers to check separately from the moves that keep an escape available when no check is present.

Here the Baidaq on h7 cannot advance because an enemy blocks it. Moving White’s Shah to f7 seals the other escapes and ends play without a check mark.

Try it on the board

Pick a lesson and the board starts from that position. Start over as often as you like.

Now put it to work

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Last updated 2026-10-07 · Run by Qdan, Inc.