In a wide-ranging examination of chess, David Shenk uncovers the hidden history of a game that was invented in India around 500 A.D. and seems more popular than ever today.

From its enthusiastic adoption by the Persians and its spread by Islamic warriors, to its 21st century importance to the development of artificial intelligence and use as a teaching tool in inner-city America, chess has been a omnipresent factor in the development of civilization.

Research shows that brain is much like the body -- it needs continual activity to remain strong and supple and fight off the predations of old age.

And researchers have determined that chess is uniquely well-suited to "exercising" the brain. It is simple to play, but offers nearly limitless variation.

It requires memory, problem-solving skills, abstract thought, and creativity. And it turns out that the people who play it regularly in their older years -- along with related activities like crossword puzzles -- are less likely to develop Alzheimer's and related conditions.

source: ABC News Article

I want your opinion whether or not you are a fan of chess variants! GM Susan Polgar drew a lot of attention to chess variants with her blog post on Omega Chess, something I thought kind of unusual from such a purist, dedicated chess player. While I'm not personally a fan of chess variants, I would love to get your opinion on Omega Chess. Or shall we call it Islamic chess? It looks interesting though.