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There are actually dozens of chess variants out there. Yet, the classic version seems to remain the most popular.

Today's "classic version" is just a variant that allows pawns to move two squares on their first move.

You know, at this point I can't even imagine HN without the all encompassing pedantry.

Is this in reference to how chess was played in India (Chaturanga)? I've been reading a book on Sultan Khan [0], and it talks about the many different ways Chess was played.

Interestingly enough, the only common rule amongst all the different versions of Chess (since it changed depending on where you lived) was that the pawn always went one space.

[0]: https://www.amazon.com/Sultan-Khan-Servant-Champion-British/...

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