How to Play The Philosopher's Game

In this video we discuss the surprising history of the game of chess in Shakespeare's lifetime. From 1550-1700 a popular version of chess played in England was called The Philosopher's Game.

An ebook I put together for instructions on how to play this game as well as a full set of printable game pieces you can use to play the authentic 16th century way is all part of the How to Play the Philosopher's Game Activity Kit available for members of Experience Shakespeare. cassidycash.com/member

Instructions for the game were published in 1568 according to HJR Murray's History of Chess book. The Publisher's Circular of 1907 talks about a William Fulke who wrote down a list of instructions for The Philosopher's Game in 1563, a transcript of which can be read here: jducoeur.com/game-hist/fulke.html

It would seem Shakespeare, at least, called chess by the "The Philosopher's Game" during his lifetime, because in 1611 when Shakespeare staged The Tempest, the philosopher in that play, Prospero, is instructed in Act V by the stage directions to "[Here PROSPERO discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA] playing at chess]"

Ann Moyer's book, The Philosopher's Game, details what she calls "the Elizabethan Rule book" for how to play The Philosopher's Game, which she says is also known as "Rithmomachia ("The Battle of Numbers"), which combined the pleasures of gaming with mathematical study and moral education"

Affiliate link for that book is here:
amzn.to/2OZC4Mx

Sources where you can learn more:
dictionary.com/browse/self-mate
historyextra.com/period/tudor/chess-gambling-an…
chess.com/article/view/origins-of-chess
jducoeur.org/game-hist/game-rules.html
chessvariants.com/index/mainquery.php?type=Any&…
chessvariants.com/historic.dir/courier.html
books.google.com/books?id=VBYLAAAAIAAJ&pg=P…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Game_at_Chess
archive.org/details/AHistoryOfChess/page/n19
books.google.com/books?id=o2lNAAAAYAAJ&pg=P…
jducoeur.com/game-hist/fulke.html
chess.stackexchange.com/questions/18950/how-wou…