Dec. 14, 2008
Chessays
The Literary World of 15th Century Valencia: The Scachs d'amour Manuscript and its Three Authors by M.C. Romeo. A wonderful about the Spanish literary circle that made modern chess what it is today. (PDF 760 K)

Chessays
"Socius, Civis et Alii" by Franco Pratesi. Goddesschess is pleased and privileged to present Carmen Romeo's special forward about the European literary traditions of chess. PDF (1.4M - complete) Also, an additional "printer friendly" series of individual PDF page files.

Oct. 19, 2008
Vegas Showgirls 2008!
Showgirls cover Vishy and Vlady ! The World Chess Championship match between GM Viswanathan Anand and GM Vladimir Kramnik draws Bambi and Candi into the spotlight! Shocking Expose!

Aug. 17, 2008
Chessquest
The Goddesschess 9th Anniversary Celebration Come read about our lataest exploits and and experience the graphical wonders!

July 16, 2008
Chesstories
The Legend of Dalukah by Don McLean, has received a significant footnote upgrade. (July 16. 2008)

July 13, 2008
Chessquest
The Mesoamerican Sacrum Bone: Doorway to the Other World by Brian Stross (pdf instant download 3.1 Meg ) A large document but well worth the read. The author's research is stellar, as are his conclusions detailing recovery of ancient shamanic traditions involving dice. For an html view but without important graphical content click here.

July 6, 2008
Chessquest
The Sacred Game by J.C. Hallman Goddesschess "enthusiastically" presents this informed thoughtspiece from the pen of J.C. Hallman. (July 4. 2008)

April 27, 2008
Art and Artifact::
... a few new graphics entries that we hope will capture your imagination.

March 23, 2008
Chessays
The Symbolism of Chess by Titus Burckhardt
" In this essay, Titus Burckhardt ties the game of chess (which originated in India and subsequently underwent minor modifications during its stay in the West) back to a larger, sacred reality. He covers an almost incredible amount of information (the caste system, astrology, and World Cycles) in a short period of time."

March 16, 2008
Chessays
"The Doctor's Game - A New Light on the History of Ancient Board Games" (see also PDF section the Chessay's Table of Contents ) "Excavations betweeen 1987 and 2003 on the fringes of the site of Camulodunum revealed an extraordinary funerary site with a Middle Iron Age antecedent." Dr. Ulrich Schadler's specialist report provides us with a high quality analysis of these discoveries from an esteemed authority on Roman era board games. Muchos gracias Ulrich!

January 20, 2008
Chesstories
Check Republics by Sally Feldman - With the kind permission of Paul Sims, this article is reproduced from New Humanist, a London-based magazine promoting reason,debate and free thought since 1885. Visit their website to browse an extensive archive dating back to1999, where you can also request a free trial copy

The Real Honest to Goddess Truth about Football By Alpheta Patton (with Donus Felinicus) Super Bowl Sunday is just around the corner. Goddesschess (and the game of the goal posts) is pleased to present the real meaning behind the game and what this means to chess. Truthiness in action! Grab a beer, hang onto your helmets, sit back and prepare to be infotained! Forward en Passant! Go Ra!

December 7, 2007
Chessays
Dr. Ricardo Calvo, M.C Romeo, et al
(MSWord doc - 1.7 Mb)

Instant Download :: This partially edited draft includes a collection of translated essays extracted mostly from Dr. Ricardo Calvo's Spanish publication - "Lucena: an Escape into Chess". Our MSword entry incorporates and improves upon the previously appearing segment of goddesschess' projected two part series - bugun earlier in html as - Love, Chess and Literature in Lucena - an Unnoticed Precedent of "La Celestina"- Part I.

November 4, 2007
Chessays
Three Games - Three Epochs M.C. Romeo's recent 2007 IGK presentation investigates a succession of events and a common theme running through medieval literature. (716 kb In pdf format)

October 7, 2007
Alpheta's Literary Agora
Schacchia Ludus by Marcus Hieronymus Vida, Bishop of Alba

September 2, 2007
Chessays
A new paradigm for an "Origins of Chess" theory
by John Ayer - This essay argues that the generally accepted scheme for the derivation of the current and disused forms of chess from the original Indian proto-chess is mistaken:

August 26, 2007
Chessquest
The Goddesschess Summer 2007 Celebration! Follow our fearless foursome as we explore and navigate the local chessboards of Milwaukee, Chicago and environs by land, sea and air. Photoworks, butterflies and fireworks help cap our 8th Anniversary installment.

July 1, 2007
Chessays
Love, Chess and Literature in Lucena - an Unnoticed Precedent of "La Celestina"- Part I further explorations in to the character and historical background of Lucena by Dr. Ricardo Calvo. (Special thanks to Carmen Romeo, who kindly forwarded Goddesschess this remarkable essay.)

Chessquest
Butrint in Vivisection Part II by Donald McLean - In which the play of pharoahs recaptures Butrint's historical conscience while netting a few cscharlatans in the process. Measure for measure, our man Butrint has been disgracefully wronged! Long live the king!

June 17, 2007
Chessays
Chessmen and Chess By Charles K. Wilkinson
We present here (with our notes) the text of Charles K. Wilkinson's article about the chess pieces excavated at Nishapur in 1939.

June 3, 2007
Alpheta's Literary Agora
Through a Glass Darkly by Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. - As it turns out, the famous American general had a lesser known poetic side...

"Through the travail of the ages,
Midst the pomp and toil of war,
Have I fought and strove and perished
Countless times upon this star."...

May27, 2007
Chess Goddesses
Ageless wonder! Alina Markowski delved into chess in the 1950s, at a time when women in the sport were uncommon. By Jan Newton - May 27, 2007

April 29, 2007
Goddesschess Blog
New Godesschess Blog! Yes darlings! Once again Goddesschess headlines the news with the announcement of our very own Google Blogspot. Come and experience!

April 17, 2007
Chesstories
"Chess", the Musical - A Story About a High-Stakes Game... and Chess, Too - (in two parts) By Jan Newton - April 16, 2007

Alpheta's Literary Agora
If I Were a Chess Master - by Michael Frey (Thanks for the poem Michael!)
If I Were King - song lyrics from the Wizard of Oz

April 1, 2007
Chessquest
No foolin'! "An Ancient Game Computers Can't Master" Jan Newton's March 31, 2007 report on "Go" strikes a blow for humanity!

March 20, 2007
Chesstories
The Legend of Dalukah Mas''odi's Dalukah appears to be a composite character. Here we find her in A. E. Wallis Budge's recapitulation, weaving her magic in a way that reminds us a great deal of grande alcedrix. As with almost everything Egyptian, the imagery is forcefully suggestive and profound.

March 17, 2007
Chessquest
New discovery or just the same old song? Between March 9 -12, 2007, a news story was picked up by several chess bloggers on the internet. The gist: A research team claims to have moved a step closer to proving that chess originated around the northern Indian city of Kanauj in the 5th century. Even so, we have some "questions" we would like to see resolved...

March 5, 2007
Gender and Chess
The Experts Say - It's Just A Numbers Game by Jan Newton March, 2007 - On February 3, 2007 my friend and fellow Chess Femme News Correspondent, Wayne Mendryk, who reports from northwest Canada, sent me an interesting item he'd come across while he was compiling a news report for Chess Femme News.  He found the report at Chessbase, one of the premier chess news websites.  Here is Wayne's report:

February 28, 2007
International Chessoid
Chessoid goes Hollywood! Donus Felinicus puts a claw into Hollywood Squares and and does what cats are wont do to with tablecloths. This is Alice's old trick.. Find out why nothing in Hollywood, or chess, is what it appears to be. Queen Wins Oscar! A cameo appearance on these very Chessoid pages by our Hollywood savvy Vegas Showgirls! It takes a Showgirl to know one!

February 16, 2007
Chesstories
Dilaram Revisited by Jan Newton
An UPDATE of previous Dilaram research into a timeless chess story and the problems people encounter when falling in love with chess... and each other!

Chesstique
Chesstique: An all new look from the four corners of our upscaled merchandising adventure to you... Check out our brand new Goddesschess storefront PLUS - Georgia's Custom Games - Pawn Promotions - Chess Showgirls Collection

Chess Femme News
Chess Femme News The Aeroflot Open, one of the strongest Swiss chess tournaments of the year, begins Wednesday in Moscow. The tournament director has posted the first round pairings at the official tournament website...

January 31, 2007
Aishwarya Rai and Chess - Six Degrees of Separation by Jan Newton
January 27, 2007 - Bollywood does chess on the big screen!!

January 22, 2007
Chessquest
Great Snakes! The Serpent Gameboard of Iran" Much ado about - nothing? UPDATED: January, 2007 - Additions to Jan Newton's research of November, 2005.

January 17, 2007
Chessquest
The Jiroft Game Boards An UPDATE of Jan Newton's original essay, first launched on November, 2005. On February 6, 2005, an article appeared in the online version of the "Persian Journal" announcing fabulous archaeological finds in Iran... How fabulous? Check out those birds!

Chessquest
When is a bird not a bird? Another UPDATE!! This time of Don McLean's introduction to the article which originally appeared on November, 2005. In the mystic's world and the virtual world of board games, folkloric legends are often more truthful than strange. Archaeological fragments and the metaphysical collide head on in this Mandeaen exploration of the Simurgh.

January 2, 2007
Chessquest
Goddesschess' Seventh Anniversary Celebration! Like Old Man River, we just keep rolling along... this time to spectacular Chicago and the Field Museum. Jan Newton reports on Tlingit North American "chess" and other native games while sharing the discoveries of our August, 2006 get together.

2006

October 24, 2006
Alpheta's Literary Agora - Book Review
The Immortal Game, Two book reviews - by Phil Hanrahan and Katie Hafner of - DAVID SHENK'S "A History of Chess (or How 32 Carved Pieces on a Board Illuminated Our Understanding of War, Art, Science, and the Human Brain),"

September 24, 2006
Alpheta's Literary Agora
A Lady of the Game
by Richard Badham Coxe Jr (2006)

Chessquest
Origin of chess and its cosmological roots by Andreas Bunkahle (06 feb 06) - Andreas takes us on a brief journey through the cosmological archetypes of XiangQi, Chaturanja, Chess and the I-Ching. An interesting extrapolation produces a novel form of the old Chinese game and shows great promise for future comparisons of this type. Reprinted with permission Sept. 21, 2006. Thanks for the submission Andreas!

Art and Artifact
Scroll to the bottom of the thumbnail gallery for quick navigation to a number of new pictures. Tlingit chess, cribbage boards of North American Indian provenance, Salvador Dali, a city square and beer are presently being served.

August 15, 2006
Chessays
Chess, Oedipus, and the Mater Dolorosa by Norman Reider (August 15. 2006) "The psycho-analytic study of play and games has been particularly rewarding, but no game is so full of possibilities for such study as that of chess."

August 8, 2006
Links
http://gamesbooks.net/related_links.jsp A-hoy! Book sales spotted on the horizon! Robert Graham has assembled a nice page of reading materials that may interest gamesters and history buffs of many different persuasions. "There is no frigate like a book..."

Culture et curiosites de l'echiquier Some very interesting material included here. Although it is a French web site, it includes ample mention of hard to come by "apocryphal" views on the origins of chess. We discount nothing and embrace everything. Were it not for "myths", Troy might never have been discovered.

August 7, 2006
Chessays
Alfonso X and Gambling in Chess November 27, 2005 - (updated as PDF August 7. 2006) A PDF integration of the html version with updated bibliographical contents

Alpheta's Literary Agora
Out da box
Printed with permission from Waterlotus (2006) Hmmm. flowers that write poetry...?! Here's a choice bud from our good friend Waterlotus

Links
A newly updated Chessmayne awaits... Thanks, Raymond!

June 29, 2006
Las Vegas Showgirls
Showgirls do POKER! Candi, Bambi join up with and a Las Vegas dealer to hit another home run. This time, the World Series of Poker is their diamond.

June 28, 2006
Chess Femme News
Chess Femme News That's right! An EXCLUSIVE new section in our menu bar with regular updates on women's participation in major tournament events.

June 26, 2006
Links
A newly updated Links Page awaits...

June 10, 2006
Gender and Chess
The Tussle in Turin! June 10, 2006 By Jan Newton Here's an update on Arianne Caoili since the article first appeared in 2002. At that time, Caoili was contemplating moving from the Phillipines due to an alleged lack of financial and training support from the chess establishment there. However, there is more to the story.

May 21, 2006
Chessays
The Introduction of Chess into Europe by M.C. Romeo May 21, 2006 (41 pages) As translated into English from an address given to the Merida Conference of March, 2006. It would be criminal to merely place this file in the PDF section of our site without lavishing praise upon the sheer beauty of its contents, both graphic and informational. It would also be an unforgivable oversight to abstain from calling the reader's attention to what great distinction it brings to author and researcher M.C. Romeo. Carmen, you are a treasure!

May 14, 2006
Chesstique
A little late for Mother's Day, but the name says it all! Chesstique is Goddesschess' new portal to the Internet's commercial high seas. Added product links and catalogue updates are expected in the coming weeks. To get the cart rolling, Chesstique proudly introduces items from Georgia Albert's "Showgirls' Collection" of seductive textile boards and shimmering pieces. Come and experience!

May 4, 2006
Chessays
Supposition on Results of Man vs. Machine on Chess by Hong Fei Teng, Yan Zhang, Yi Shou Wang & Hong Xia Zhao. We wish to thank an able and cooperative team of Chinese researchers for their mathematical journey into "probability" aspects of chess and other games.

April 24, 2006
Chessquest
Goddesschess' Sixth Anniversary Celebration!
Jan Newton reports on trips to New York and the Oriental Institute Museum in Chicago, September 23 - October 3, 2005.

April 4, 2006
Chessquest
Butrint in Vivisection - To be or not to be? Introduction to a multistage examination of the unusual find from Butrint Albania.

February 22, 2006
Archives
I.G.K. 2003 Berlin conference
Synopsis 2003I.G.K. 2005 Berlin conference
Synopsis 2005

Who We Are
An update of the never ending update! What is chess? Who is chess? Are we chess? Why chess? When is chess? Which chess?

February 14, 2006
Las Vegas Showgirls
Multitudes of intimacies shared and bared - decorum breached as cheeky, chesty Showgirls "Ask the Queen"!

Links
A few new and updated entries you may wish to explore...

February 6, 2006
Las Vegas Showgirls
4-3-2 Goddess! The Showgirls take off on a spellbinding tango through numerological and historical time-space! Their Godel Chess - Global Chess trilogy has also been recently updated.
Come and experience!!

Alpheta's Literary Agora
Chess an original poem by Elizabeth L. Scott - as submitted by our friend, Brian Wall

January 12, 2006
Art and Artifact
A new thumbnail format and a few additions to our gallery add fun and functionality to this expanding segment of goddesschess.

Chessays
Some new additions to the Joseph Needham page make the man and his work a little less mysterious to our viewers.

2005

December 7, 2005
Chessays
Alfonso X and Gambling in Chess A graphically and textually enriched re-entry of M.C. Romeo's most recent (Nov.27th) offering on the innovative chess of medieval Spain. The new page of Alfonso artwork is especially rich, even if some of the players have, indeed, "lost their shirts".

November 27, 2005
Chessquest
Twenty Squares Jan Newton November, 2005 - Are "culture wars" leading everyone astray? A controversial discovery made all the more so by conflicting evidence and suspect press releases.

Chessays
Alfonso X and Gambling in Chess November, 2005 - We welcome M.C. Romeo's masterful treatment of the Alfonso literature. One could lose more than one's shirt in the Spanish chess of medieval times. (English translation with original Spanish included)

November 25, 2005
Chessquest
The Jiroft Game Boards Jan Newton November, 2005 - On February 6, 2005, an article appeared in the online version of the "Persian Journal" announcing fabulous archeological finds in Iran...

When is a bird not a bird? Don McLean, November, 2005 - In the mystic's world and the virtual world of board games, folkloric legends are often more truthful than strange. Archeological fragments and the metaphysical collide head on in this Mandeaen exploration of the Simurgh.

October 25, 2005
Art and Artifact
The Egyptian cartonnage on our preview page is a capture from Goddesschess' recent tour of the Oriental Institute Museum (OIM) in Chicago.

Las Vegas Showgirls
The Showgirls have evolved their Godel Chess...Global Chess into a three part barnburner! Cameo appearances by several notables - including PI, my pet dragon...

May 17, 2005
Art and Artifact
New items from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts publication "Art and Oracle; African Art and Rituals of Divination". Enter an African "doorway" and say hello to the "friction pawn".

May 12, 2005
Alpheta's Literary Agora
famous once - a short poem by NM Dennis Fritzinger.

May 8 , 2005
Chessquest
Irving Finkel, Jeremy Silman and the Chess of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" Jan Newton's entertaining and informative "stream of consciousness" foray into the creative depths of Harry Potter's chess adventures and the men of insight who make it all happen for us on the big screen. A delight for Griffendorfer's and Griffendorfettes of all ages!

2004

November 25, 2004
Art and Artifact
Remidios Varo: We have recently come across the brilliantly executed artwork of a little known known mistress of the medium. We hope you will share our enthusiasm and feel moved to further explore the depth of her genius. Thanks to Chris of TPG for pointing her out to us.

May 8 , 2005
Chessquest
Irving Finkel, Jeremy Silman and the Chess of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" Jan Newton's entertaining and informative "stream of consciousness" foray into the creative depths of Harry Potter's chess adventures and the men of insight who make it all happen for us on the big screen. A delight for Griffendorfer's and Griffendorfettes of all ages!

November 25, 2004
Art and Artifact
Remidios Varo: We have recently come across the brilliantly executed artwork of a little known known mistress of the medium. We hope you will share our enthusiasm and feel moved to further explore the depth of her genius. Thanks to Chris of TPG for pointing her out to us.

May 8 , 2005

Chessquest
Irving Finkel, Jeremy Silman and the Chess of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" Jan Newton's entertaining and informative "stream of consciousness" foray into the creative depths of Harry Potter's chess adventures and the men of insight who make it all happen for us on the big screen. A delight for Griffendorfer's and Griffendorfettes of all ages!

November 25, 2004
Art and Artifact
Remidios Varo: We have recently come across the brilliantly executed artwork of a little known known mistress of the medium. We hope you will share our enthusiasm and feel moved to further explore the depth of her genius. Thanks to Chris of TPG for pointing her out to us.

Links
Pascal Romain's website: Sorry Pascal! We should have included your site among our links from the very beginning.

October 31, 2004
Chessays
Dr. Grovert Westerveld: The Queen's Man By Jan Newton October 31, 2004. Dr. Westerveld's celebration of the famous Isabella la Catholica, Queen of Spain rubs shoulders with chess, checkers and the evolving history of female influence in the development of both games.

Links
Louis Cazaux's website has moved to http://history.chess.free.fr Please update your browsers to reflect this change.

July 17, 2004
Alpheta's Literary Agora - Book Reviews
A new category we hope will appeal to the literary demon in all of us. We begin at the beginning with two installments focusing upon "she who turns the wheel" of chess.

Birth of the Chess Queen by Marilyn Yalom

Silver Queen - The Glamour and Shadow of Success by Maria Ivanka

June 27, 2004
Las Vegas Showgirls
Our two Goddesschess hemp birds explore the mysterious east and shatrangi. Were traders rolling more into their carpets than most histories admit? Shatranji - Getting high on chess sends a whiff of suspicion wafting down the old Silk Road.

Alpheta's Literary Agora
To the Lady that Scorned Her Lover Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517 - 1547)

June 11, 2004
Chessays
Lucena - A mystery after 500 years By M.C.Romeo Our dear friend Carmen's expert research on the man, his legend and the intrigue involving publication of his work on chess owes much to the efforts of her husband, the late Dr. Ricardo Calvo.

Art and Artifact
donqalucinogeno - a unique and "visionary" poster from Taly Rivera of Puerto Rico. Thanks for forwarding this to us Taly.

May 07, 2004
Chessays
Islamic Ivory Chess Pieces, Draughtsmen and Dice Anna Contadini delivers an outstanding index of Islmaic chessmen and other intriguing board game curiosities. Five galleries of viewable items with complete bibliographical notation.

Chesstories
Chess Hustlers Never Die, They Just - Get Evicted Jan Newton May, 2004 Up and down times in the glen and on the lam in Toronto

What Men Think About Women Chessplayers Jan Newton April, 2004. This article was inspired by an email I received from my friend and co-partner in Goddesschess, Isis a/k/a Georgia:

February 11, 2004
Chessays
Bidev Graphics At long last, we have recreated and reformatted the majority of graphic elements required for the Bidev article, "Chess - A Mathematical Model of the Cosmos". These have been included as as separate appendix and will "pop up" as a second window on your screen.

February 06, 2004
Las Vegas Showgirls
Aphrodisiac Cooking by Georgia Albert and Jan Newton Cooking with chess? In their third installment, those irrepressible Las Vegas Showgirls take us on an exotic tour of the spice box of chess. A tasty mix of far eastern facts with loads of links to related kitchens - where chess is always served - HOT!

Also updated: Candi and Bambi's two previous articles get a makeover and a sub-index of their very own. Enjoy the new sights and sounds of the revamped Showgirls Do Chess article and take a spin in their new Mustang on the Tessellations - Knight's Tour page. Always fashionable, informative and fun - stay tuned for more Showgirls features.

January 11, 2004
Chessays
The Men of Staunton - or are they? By Barry Martin - Chess Magazine Oct, 1994. A critical look at the background story behind the development fo the Staunton pieces and the alleged designer(s). Caution, Masonic intrigue ahead!

For Love of the Game by Janet L. Newton
(December 25, 2003) "The Idea of Chess" is almost more compelling than its actual history and seems to extend further back in time than the game itself...

2003

October 31, 2003
Art and Artifact
Updated with a few new files. Link to New York Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts

Chessays
Tribute to Dr. Ricardo Calvo extended to include Carmen Calvo's salute to her husband and his work.

Archives
A snapshot of the recent Berlin contingent - with more information on the 2003 meeting to follow soon.

October 13, 2003
Those Las Vegas Showgirls take us on a Knight's Tour of the Las Vegas Skyline. Among the sites: Chess, Tesselations, M.C. Escher and MORE! The girls are fun - but they also teach an interesting lesson.

Chesstories
Human Brian FAR Superior to the computer. At last - proof positive that we hominoids are smarter than our I.T. creations

October 1, 2003
Chessays
The King Isn't Dead After All! by Jan Newton September, 2003 The Real Meaning of Shah Mat

Art and Artifact
A group of 16 different selections highlights the opening of this section of Goddesschess

Alpheta's Literary Agora
Checkmate by Blanche MacLanahan, 2003

August 28, 2003
Chessays

C.J. Gadd on Babylonian Chess ?

Horst Remus The Origin of Chess and the Silk Road

Joseph Needham Thoughts on the origin of chess

PDF (900 kb) Jospeh Needham Ch.11 The pseudo sciences and the sceptical tradition

PDF (1.88 mb) Joseph Needham Ch. 26 Physics - the Chinese orientation to chess

MSWord doc Peter Piccione: Abstract for 2003 publication on the Egyptian game of Senet

August 5, 2003

Alpheta's Literary Agora

Howwwwl! an original poem by Maria Thomas

Untitled a brief but very brilliant poem by 14th century poet Hafiz

Chesstories

Machine vs. Man: Newsweek Magazine July 21, 2003 By Steven Levy

Chessays
A brief tribute to the memory of chess historian and friend, Kenneth Whyld (1926- 2003)

June 26, 2003

Chesstories

When The King Is Dethroned I jumped at the chance to teach my son how to play Chess. I just wasn't prepared for him to beat me By William O'Fallon September 10, 2001 Newsweek Magazine

Chessquest
A nascent Goddesschess category!
Chess Quest proposes a reflective pool of wanderings, ponderings, mental furniture, accumulated ghosts, skeletons, bric-a-brac - all conceivably related to chess...

Chessquest
Part 1 Ponderings, essays, this and that, all related to chess (more or less). Offered from time to time. May 26, 2003 Jan Newton Reflections on Memorial Day, 2003

Chessquest
Part 2 Lessons from Archaeology "The Glass Wreck" Underwater arcaeology and the discovery of some very old chessmen. June 22, 2003 Jan Newton