Date: 1 Jun 2026
Topic: History
Codebreakers are a fun way to build numeracy skills.
Chess was invented in India around 500–600 AD, roughly 1,500 years ago, and several legends surround its origin.
One such tale concerns King Shirham, the ruler of India at the time. Bored and seeking entertainment, he challenged his Vizier, a learned scholar of the court, to present him with something of value or interest. The king promised that if the Vizier succeeded, he would be granted whatever reward he desired.
Some time later, the Vizier presented the king with the game of chess, explaining how it reflected the roles, responsibilities, and strategy involved in governing a kingdom.
Impressed, the king invited the Vizier to name his reward. Wishing to teach the king a lesson, the Vizier requested only rice: one grain on the first square of the chessboard, two on the second, four on the third, and so on, doubling on each successive square.
The king considered the request trivial and readily agreed. Only later did he realise his mistake. Fulfilling the promise would require a total of 2⁶⁴ − 1 grains of rice - an amount so vast that it far exceeded the resources of his kingdom. Through this, the king learned the danger of underestimating exponential growth and making promises before understanding their true cost.