(...) The history of chess is very old. Thousands of years ago - no one knows exactly how many - people began to invent, to satisfy their need for play, various wooden boards with engraved lines and placed and moved various pieces made of stones and wood on them. Thus, games were created, among which, with various refinements, chess as well. Images of such games have been found in the Egyptian pyramids. They are also mentioned in ancient texts. It is said that a Chinese chess has been known for 4,000 years, while there is evidence that chess in India has been known for over 2,000 years. (...) [Excerpt from the introduction text of the edition]