Chess pawns used to have individual names

by Larra Morris

During the Middle Ages, monks tried to represent the pawns as citizens. The first on a2 was an agricultural worker, the second a farrier, the third a weaver, the fourth a businessman, the fifth a doctor, the sixth an innkeeper, the seventh a policeman, and the eighth a gambler.

So think about that next time you start a game with 1.e4. That’s not just a faceless pawn you’re sending into battle — it’s a doctor. Maybe that’s why the names never caught on. It’s a lot easier to sacrifice a pawn than it is an innkeeper.
via Geekosystem

Want early design analysis without simulation?

Sponsored by Siemens Digital Industries Software

Traditional verification methods are failing today's complex IC designs, which require a proactive, early-stage analysis approach. A shift-left methodology addresses IP block integration challenges and the limitations of traditional simulation and ERC tools. Insight Analyzer detects hard-to-find leakage issues across power domains, enabling early analysis without full simulation. Identify inefficiencies earlier to reduce rework, improve reliability, and enhance power performance.

Click to read more!

featured chalk talk

GaN for Humanoid Robots

Sponsored by Mouser Electronics and Infineon

In this episode of Chalk Talk, Eric Persson and Amelia Dalton explore why power is the key driver for efficient and reliable robot movements and how GaN technologies can help motor control solutions be more compact, integrated and efficient. They also investigate the role of field-oriented control in humanoid robotic applications and why the choice of a GaN power transistor can make all the difference in your next humanoid robot project!

Click here for more information about Infineon Technologies Motor Control Solutions for Humanoid Robots

Apr 20, 2026

17,651 views

Chess pawns used to have individual names

Related