user330: When a pawn finally reaches the eighth rank, then it can be promoted to rook, knight, bishop or queen. It is not hard to imagine that a soldier who has achieved a lot could be promoted to an officer. However, it is almost incredible that a meritorious fighter would eventually become a queen, even though the old queen is still alive.
So my questions are: 

Is every pawn female?
Could a king marry more than one queen in ancient times?


user70: To answer your questions...

I never checked
It's good to be the king - Mel Brooks

In the original game (and perhaps even today), what Europeans call the queen, the Indians call the Advisor.
It's just a language thing.

user17: "Queen" in this instance, means "second in command." 
Most "queens" in real life are only wives of kings. They typically aren't "second in commands." Exceptions might occur if the king was weak or incapacitated, or if the king died and his minor son became "king," in which case his MOTHER might be the Queen REGENT. ruling for her minor son. In such a situation, you might have a second "queen" when the king grew up and got married.
A better term for "queen" in chess might be "prime minister." Normally, you wouldn't have two Prime Ministers, but if there was an exceptionally valiant and accomplished soldier, you might, one (the soldier) for war, the other (original one) for peace.

user279: In the original form of the game from which chess probably derived, chaturanga, there was no piece named "Queen".
The Queen of modern chess probably derived from a piece named "General": in the beginning this piece could move 1 square only diagonally, then its movenemt became more and more similar to the modern Queen. But there's more: in chaturanga there were pieces very similar to pawns, "Soldiers", that could become Generals after having reached opponent's King field.
When chess was imported in Europe, during Middle-Age and Reinassance, passing especially through Spain, pieces were renamed in order to give european players a more comfortable playing background. For example, the uncommon "Elephant" became "Bishop" (a very well known figure in catholic regions). And the General became the "Queen". But they only renamed pieces without changing the mechanic of the game. Thus, a "Soldier" could (and can) still be promoted.

330: <p>When a pawn finally reaches the eighth rank, then it can be promoted to rook, knight, bishop or queen. It is not hard to imagine that a soldier who has achieved a lot could be promoted to an officer. However, it is almost incredible that a meritorious fighter would eventually become a queen, even though the old queen is still alive.</p>

<p>So my questions are: </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Is every pawn female?</p></li>
<li><p>Could a king marry more than one queen in ancient times?</p></li>
</ol>
 70: <p>To answer your questions...</p>

<ol>
<li>I never checked</li>
<li>It's good to be the king - Mel Brooks</li>
</ol>

<p>In the original game (and perhaps even today), what Europeans call the queen, the Indians call the Advisor.</p>

<p>It's just a language thing.</p>
 17: <p>"Queen" in this instance, means "second in command." </p>

<p>Most "queens" in real life are only wives of kings. They typically aren't "second in commands." Exceptions might occur if the king was weak or incapacitated, or if the king died and his minor son became "king," in which case his MOTHER might be the Queen REGENT. ruling for her minor son. In such a situation, you might have a second "queen" when the king grew up and got married.</p>

<p>A better term for "queen" in chess might be "prime minister." Normally, you wouldn't have two Prime Ministers, but if there was an exceptionally valiant and accomplished soldier, you might, one (the soldier) for war, the other (original one) for peace.</p>
 279: <p>In the original form of the game from which chess probably derived, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaturanga">chaturanga</a>, there was no piece named "Queen".</p>

<p>The Queen of modern chess probably derived from a piece named "General": in the beginning this piece could move 1 square only diagonally, then its movenemt became more and more similar to the modern Queen. But there's more: in chaturanga there were pieces very similar to pawns, "Soldiers", that could become Generals after having reached opponent's King field.</p>

<p>When chess was imported in Europe, during Middle-Age and Reinassance, passing especially through Spain, pieces were renamed in order to give european players a more comfortable playing background. For example, the uncommon "Elephant" became "Bishop" (a very well known figure in catholic regions). And the General became the "Queen". But they only renamed pieces without changing the mechanic of the game. Thus, a "Soldier" could (and can) still be promoted.</p>
