This is all to be expected, I guess. What I find insidious about the game is simply the “black vs. white” color scheme. Could it have been lost on the Spanish that their skin color was lighter than the Muslims they fought? Is it lost on modern players that the white pieces are superior to the black (white has the advantage of going first and therefore is more likely to win)?
Careful with applying modern American interpretations of race to medieval Spanish history. Ain't very historical materialist.
Yeah good point. I was having a similar thought while writing it which is why I phrased those thoughts as questions. I suppose the second question is really the one that matters and the first, while interesting, is more of a curiousity.
I don't think it's very likely that the game was designed with race in mind, but it is interesting to think that the black pieces start with a disadvantage due to rules that were established by a bunch of aristocrats hundreds of years ago. But of course, I'm just playing games with words here
According to computer models black has a slight disadvantage. I've played thousands of games and have 53% wins with white and 47% wins with black (adding up to 100% only by coincidence. I used to be very proud of having just barely over 50% wins with black, but that didn't last)
Careful with applying modern American interpretations of race to medieval Spanish history. Ain't very historical materialist.
It'd be a good research topic though.
Yeah good point. I was having a similar thought while writing it which is why I phrased those thoughts as questions. I suppose the second question is really the one that matters and the first, while interesting, is more of a curiousity.
I don't think it's very likely that the game was designed with race in mind, but it is interesting to think that the black pieces start with a disadvantage due to rules that were established by a bunch of aristocrats hundreds of years ago. But of course, I'm just playing games with words here
Do they really? They have the advantage of the responding easier to the side with initiative
Statistically the player who makes the first move wins more often
According to computer models black has a slight disadvantage. I've played thousands of games and have 53% wins with white and 47% wins with black (adding up to 100% only by coincidence. I used to be very proud of having just barely over 50% wins with black, but that didn't last)