Shatranj is an ancient board game that originated in India around the 6th century AD. It is considered a precursor to modern chess and is played on an 8x8 grid. The game features two players, each controlling an army of pieces, including the Shah (king), Firzan (queen), Rukh (rook), Asb (knight), Fil (bishop), and Piyade (pawn). The objective is to checkmate the opponent's king. The rules of Shatranj are similar to those of chess, but with some differences in piece movement and gameplay. For example, the Firzan moves only one square diagonally, while the Asb moves in an L-shape. Shatranj has influenced various cultures and has evolved into different forms, leading to the development of modern chess as we know it today.