What is common between Astrology and Chess?
In Vedic Astrology, Rahu is often said to behave like Saturn. Rahu and Saturn rule Aquarius. Both may represent the marginalised, unconventional paths, delay, hardship and experiences that challenge established boundaries. Therefore, the eight Pawns may primarily represent Saturn while also carrying certain qualities of Rahu.Viswanathan Anand—the Man Who Changed Indian Chess
The video on Sagar Shah's YouTube Channel - ChessBase India
I was completely unprepared for the interview. We were also getting ready for the next round of the tournament, so our conversation had to be brief. Had there been more time, I would have shared many other fascinating connections between Chess and Astrology.
Yesterday, someone sent me the video of that interview again. Watching it rekindled my interest in the subject and inspired me to write this article. Through it, I hope chess players and Astrologers alike will discover the remarkable connections between these two great arts.
Chess, Saturn and the Karma of Every Move
Chess begins under the influence of Saturn and its number 8. The board has eight rows and eight columns, creating 8 × 8 = 64 squares. Each player begins with eight Pawns and eight other chessmen, while the opposing King waits on the eighth rank. That King becomes the focus of the entire struggle—but the outcome depends upon the moves we make.
Every game of chess may be compared to one lifetime. Both players are given the same number of pieces and the same starting position, just as every soul enters life with certain opportunities and limitations. The next game resembles rebirth: the previous battle has ended, the board is reset, and we begin another journey. Yet what we learnt from the earlier game accompanies us into the next one.
Every move is an action, and once it has been made, it cannot be withdrawn. Similarly, every action in life creates an effect—immediately or eventually. At the beginning of a chess game, we have many possible choices. With every move, however, some possibilities disappear and new limitations arise. Our earlier decisions gradually reduce our freedom to choose. This is how karma works: the free will available to us today is partly determined by the moves we made yesterday.
Saturn is the Karma Karaka, the significator of karma. Saturn represents deep thinking, patience, discipline, perseverance and the willingness to accept the consequences of our actions. All these qualities are essential in chess. Quick, careless and hasty moves can lead to disaster, while a carefully considered move can alter the course of the entire game.
Chess therefore teaches us one of life’s greatest lessons: watch your moves carefully, because every move creates the position from which you must make your next one. Think before you move.
Why the Pawn Represents Saturn
Among all the chessmen on the board, which one best represents Saturn?In Shadbala calculations, every planet possesses a fixed natural strength called Naisargika Bala. This strength does not depend upon the planet’s sign, house, aspects or any other condition in an individual horoscope. The Sun receives the highest natural strength, while Saturn receives the lowest. When expressed as a simple ratio, Saturn is assigned 1, whereas the Sun is assigned 7.
Chess follows a remarkably similar scale. In the standard system used to evaluate chess pieces, the Pawn is given the basic value of 1. Like Saturn in Naisargika Bala, it occupies the lowest position in the hierarchy.
Saturn is also the last visible planet recognised in traditional Vedic Astrology, since we do not include planets beyond Saturn. It is the most distant of the seven planets from the Sun. Similarly, Saturday is the seventh and last day in the traditional planetary sequence of the week. Saturn therefore signifies those who stand last—the labourers, servants, underprivileged people and apparently weakest sections of society.
But those considered last are not necessarily powerless. In a democracy, the common people ultimately determine who will become the ruler. In the same way, the Pawns may appear to be the weakest pieces, but they occupy half of the army at the beginning of a chess game. There are eight Pawns on each side—another striking connection between Saturn and the number 8.
Beginners frequently move their Pawns without giving them serious thought. When they lose a Pawn, they may not feel greatly disturbed because it is worth only one point. A Grandmaster, however, understands the hidden potential of every Pawn. At a high level of chess, even a single extra Pawn can become a decisive advantage. Many important games have been lost simply because one player remained a Pawn down.
The game itself usually begins under the influence of the Pawn. A player’s first legal move must be made either with a Pawn or a Knight, and the overwhelming majority of games begin with a Pawn move. Therefore, we may symbolically say that most chess battles begin with Saturn.
Openings are built largely around Pawn moves and Pawn structures. The placement of the Pawns determines how much space a player controls, which lines will open, where weaknesses will arise and whether the King will remain safe. A player who masters chess openings and understands Pawn structures is likely to become a much stronger player. What appears to be the least valuable piece quietly determines the character of the entire battle.
The Pawn also demonstrates Saturn’s connection with limitation. It normally advances only one square at a time and cannot move backwards. It captures differently from the way it moves. Every step must therefore be taken with care, because once a Pawn has advanced, that decision cannot be reversed. This resembles karma: we must move forward while carrying the consequences of our earlier actions.
Yet the Pawn’s greatest secret is its power of regeneration. Saturn signifies death, transformation, rebirth and resurrection. When a Pawn reaches the eighth and final rank—the maximum distance it can travel—it is removed from the board in its original form. The Pawn, as a Pawn, has come to an end. But at that very moment, it is reborn as a Queen, Rook, Bishop or Knight, according to the player’s choice.
Thus, Pawn promotion beautifully represents death and rebirth. The weakest piece can regenerate as the most powerful piece on the board. Its old identity disappears, but its journey continues in a transformed form. Once again, the transformation occurs on the eighth rank, Saturn’s own number.
There is even a numerological connection. In English or Chaldean numerology, the letters F and P carry the value 8, which is associated with Saturn. The word Pawn begins with the letter P. Although this is a symbolic numerological observation rather than a rule stated in classical Vedic Astrology, it adds another fascinating link.
The Pawn is therefore not merely a weak chess piece. It represents the masses, patient labour, restriction, irreversible movement, sacrifice, hidden strength, death of the old identity and regeneration into a higher form. For all these reasons, we can confidently associate the Pawn with Saturn.
The King Depends on Saturn
An exposed King is weak and vulnerable. However powerful the King may be symbolically, without proper protection he can easily be checked and eventually checkmated. His most dependable protectors are usually the Pawns standing in front of him.
This becomes especially visible after castling. A King generally finds safety behind a strong Pawn shield. Although having all three Pawns intact is not a legal condition for castling, a player normally prefers to castle where the Pawns have not been unnecessarily disturbed. Once these Pawns advance or disappear, dangerous lines may open towards the King.
This provides another remarkable connection between the Pawn and Saturn. The Sun represents the King, while Saturn represents the ordinary people, workers and masses. The Sun possesses the highest Naisargika Bala, whereas Saturn possesses the lowest. On the chessboard too, the King is supreme, while each Pawn is valued at only one point. Yet the safety of the supreme King often depends upon these apparently insignificant Pawns.
The King does not stand in front of the Pawns to protect them. Instead, he hides behind them for his own protection. Similarly, a ruler may appear powerful, but his position ultimately depends upon the support of ordinary people. In a democracy, it is the collective strength of the masses that decides who will rule.
A careless beginner may weaken the Pawns surrounding the King without understanding the consequences. An experienced player knows that every Pawn move creates a permanent change. Pawns cannot retreat, and the empty squares they leave behind may later become entry points for the enemy. This is another Saturnian lesson: an apparently small action can produce an irreversible karmic consequence.
What is common between a Chess Software and Naisargika Bala of BPHS
Saturn may possess the lowest Naisargika Bala which is 1, and the Pawn may carry the lowest value in chess which is also 1, but neither should be underestimated.
Chess software recognises that the Pawn’s true value is not permanently limited to 1. Its value changes according to its structure, protection, mobility and proximity to the eighth rank. The pawn on the 7th rank is almost a Rook and on the 8th rank becomes the Queen. The Pawn that seems insignificant in the opening may later determine the game.
Each player begins with 8 Pawns—the largest group of identical chessmen on either side. There are only two Rooks, two Knights and two Bishops, but 8 Pawns. Individually, a Pawn may appear weak; collectively, Pawns form the largest and most influential section of the army. This resembles the common people in a nation: each individual may appear powerless, yet together they can determine who becomes the ruler.
A Pawn does not merely protect the King. It can also participate in a checkmating attack, restrict the opponent’s escape squares, or even deliver the final checkmate itself. Thus, the apparently weakest chessman may protect its own King and help overthrow the opposing King.
The Pawn begins with a value of one and appears to be the weakest chessman. It travels slowly through the alternating black and white squares, experiencing the symbolic light and darkness of life. Finally, upon reaching the eighth rank, its old identity comes to an end and it is reborn as a Queen, Rook, Bishop or Knight—a new avatar chosen by the player.
The Pawn begins with a value of one, appearing as the weakest chessmen, travels slowly through the alternating black and white squares, and reaches the eighth rank to be reborn as something else, a new avatar. What could represent Saturn more perfectly?
The King, the Sun and the Number One
The chessboard is built upon Saturn’s number. It contains eight rows and eight columns: 8 × 8 = 64 squares. When we reduce 64 numerologically: 6 + 4 = 10 → 1 + 0 = 1. Thus, the chessboard begins with 8, the number of Saturn, but ultimately leads to 1, the number of the Sun. This is highly symbolic because the entire battle on the chessboard is fought for the King. Every piece may be captured, but once the King is checkmated, the game ends.
Therefore, the King undoubtedly represents the Sun.
In Astrology, the Sun signifies the king, authority, sovereignty, dignity, leadership and the centre around which the planetary system functions. Similarly, the chess King is the central figure around whom the whole game revolves. After the game is over, players keep their Kings in the middle of the board. Sun is in the middle of the orbits of the planets.
In Astrology, the Sun represents the Atma—the soul and the source of life. It is the central force around which everything else functions. Similarly, the entire game of Chess revolves around the King. Other pieces may be lost, but the game continues. The decisive question is: Which King is checkmated? The answer alone determines the outcome of the game.
This central importance of the Sun may also explain why Sun-sign Astrology became so popular throughout the world. However, Western Sun-sign books generally use the tropical zodiac, whereas Vedic Astrology uses the sidereal zodiac. Because of this difference, the Sun may occupy different signs in the two systems.
For example, I was born on January 23. Most Western Sun-sign books would classify me as an Aquarius. However, according to my Vedic Rasi chart, my Sun is in Capricorn. Therefore, when reading a book such as Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs, the description given for Capricorn may correspond more closely to the actual sidereal position of my Sun.
Whether on the chessboard or in the horoscope, everything ultimately revolves around the Sun—the King.
The King moves only 1 square at a time, perfectly reflecting the Sun’s association with the number 1. Yet when the King stands near the centre of an otherwise empty board, it has the potential to move to any of the eight surrounding squares—forward, backward, sideways or diagonally, provided the destination is legal and safe.
Thus, the King brings the numbers of the Sun and Saturn together: it moves one square, but it may have eight possible directions. The number 1 belongs to the Sun, while 8 belongs to Saturn.
This Sun–Saturn relationship is deeply significant in Vedic Astrology. The two planets are connected, yet opposite in nature. According to traditional mythology, Saturn is the son of the Sun. But astrologically, they represent contrasting principles. The Sun signifies the ruler, authority, individuality and splendour, while Saturn signifies the masses, labour, limitation, humility and endurance.
Even their zodiacal positions reveal this opposition. The Sun rules Leo, while Saturn traditionally rules Aquarius, the sign directly opposite Leo. The Sun becomes exalted in Aries, while Saturn becomes exalted in Libra, the sign opposite Aries. What strengthens one is situated directly across from what strengthens the other.
The same opposition appears beautifully on the chessboard. The Sun is represented by the King, the most important chessman. Saturn is represented by the Pawn, the least-valued chessman. Yet the King frequently depends upon a wall of Pawns for protection. The ruler survives because the ordinary soldiers stand before him.
At the beginning, every player has only one King but eight Pawns. This resembles society itself: there may be only one ruler, but there are millions of ordinary people. Individually, they may appear weak; collectively, they possess the power to protect the ruler, choose the ruler or overthrow the ruler.
The war is for the King.
The King without a Queen on the Board?
If the King represents the Sun, the Queen naturally represents the Moon. In Vedic Astrology, the Sun signifies the Atma—the soul, while the Moon signifies the Manas—the mind. The Sun is the source of life, but it is through the Moon—the mind—that we experience, understand and respond to that life.
The Moon does not produce its own light; it receives and reflects the light of the Sun. Similarly, the mind reflects the purpose and consciousness of the soul. When the mind is calm and clear, it reflects the light of the soul beautifully. When the mind is disturbed, even that light appears distorted—just as the reflection of the Sun or Moon becomes broken upon turbulent water.
This makes the Moon one of the most important planets in the horoscope. Whatever may be promised in a horoscope, we experience it through the mind. Wealth cannot produce happiness when the mind is troubled. Even difficulties can be faced courageously when the mind is strong. Our confidence, emotions, memories, imagination, reactions and peace of mind are all closely connected with the Moon.
The Queen is the most powerful and versatile chessman on the board. She combines the movements of the Rook and the Bishop. Like the Rook, she can move horizontally and vertically; like the Bishop, she can move diagonally. When her path is clear, she can travel from one end of the board to the other in a single move.
This remarkable mobility connects the Queen with the Moon. In Vedic Astrology, the Moon is the fastest-moving Graha, completing its journey through the twelve zodiac signs in approximately 27⅓ days. The Moon represents the mind—and the mind is equally swift. Within moments, it can travel into the past or the future, moving through memories, calculations, hopes, fears and countless possibilities. Thus, the speed and versatility of the Queen beautifully reflect the restless and far-reaching nature of the mind.
As long as the Queen remains active, she provides tremendous strength and protection to the King. When a player loses the Queen without receiving sufficient compensation, the position often becomes extremely difficult, and many players resign. The exception is a purposeful Queen sacrifice—when she is willingly surrendered to achieve checkmate or some greater strategic advantage.
The familiar question, “Have you lost your mind?”, acquires a special meaning in this comparison. Losing the Queen on the chessboard can leave a player shocked and dispirited, just as losing mental balance can leave a person helpless in life. A King who loses his Queen loses his most powerful companion; similarly, when the soul is no longer supported by a calm and capable mind, life itself becomes a difficult battle.
The Queen therefore represents more than power. Like the Moon, she represents the speed, versatility, adaptability and extraordinary influence of the mind.
This remarkable versatility reflects the nature of the mind. The mind can move towards the past or the future, towards hope or fear, towards logic or imagination. It can defend, attack, plan, calculate, create and adapt. Within a moment, it can travel farther than any physical body. Like the Queen, the mind can approach a situation from many different directions.
However, great power requires proper control. A well-positioned Queen can dominate the board, but a carelessly handled Queen can become exposed, trapped or lost. In the same way, a disciplined mind becomes our greatest strength, whereas an uncontrolled mind may create confusion, anxiety and self-defeating decisions.
The King and Queen form the royal pair of the chessboard, just as the Sun and Moon form the most important pair in the horoscope. The Sun gives purpose; the Moon interprets and experiences it. The Sun represents the soul; the Moon represents the mind. The Sun is the source of light, while the Moon carries that light into our inner world.
The Queen may be more powerful in movement, but her power must ultimately protect the King and fulfil the purpose of the game. Similarly, the mind possesses tremendous power, but it functions best when it remains aligned with the soul.
The Chess software gives the highest point in the evaluation for the Queen. It is approximately 9. The King has not been assigned any value because the game is over if the King is checkmated. Look at the Naisargika strength table and I am sure you noticed that Moon is the next highest after the Sun.
What Is Common Between Human Life and Chess?
Before discussing the connection between Astrology and Chess, we must first understand what Chess has in common with human life. I have noticed so many similarities that I sometimes wonder whether Chess is merely a game—or a miniature representation of life itself.
Perhaps this is why I am so deeply interested in Chess. Whenever I watch a game, I begin comparing the position on the board with situations in human life. By observing how one move creates the need for another, I began to understand the working mechanism of karma more clearly.
We Do Not Enter the Game Empty-Handed
When Viswanathan Anand sits down to begin a new game, the pieces may be in their original positions, but Anand himself is not beginning from zero. He brings with him the accumulated knowledge of thousands of earlier games—the openings he has studied, the mistakes he has made, the victories he has achieved and the patterns stored in his memory.
The board is new, but the player carries the past within him.
Human life may also be understood in this way. We enter a new life with tendencies, abilities, fears, desires and karmic impressions brought forward from earlier experiences. According to spiritual tradition, Lord Buddha attained the knowledge of his previous births. He understood the long journey through which the soul had arrived at its present condition.
Thus, every new Chess game begins from the same arrangement of pieces, yet every player approaches it with a different level of knowledge. Similarly, human beings may enter the same world, but they do not enter it with the same karmic background.
Every Move Creates the Next Position
At the beginning of a Chess game, we appear to have considerable freedom. White may begin with e4, d4, c4, Nf3 or several other moves. The player is free to choose.
However, the moment the first move is made, the position changes. Certain possibilities open, while others disappear. The opponent replies, and the next decision must be made within the situation created by the earlier moves.
This is exactly how free will and karma operate together.
We have freedom, but our present freedom exists within the position created by our previous actions. A choice made yesterday becomes a condition we must face today. The move we make today will become part of the position from which we must make tomorrow’s decision.
Therefore:
Free will makes the move; the moves create the game, the game of Karma
At the beginning of the game, many roads are open. As the game progresses, our choices become increasingly connected to what has already happened. One careless move may force us to defend for the next twenty moves. One wise decision may provide a lasting advantage.
Life behaves in the same way. A decision concerning education, marriage, friendship, health, money or career may take only a few moments to make, but its consequences may remain with us for many years.
Life Does Not Permit Takebacks
In a friendly game, someone may ask, “Can I take back that move?” In a serious tournament, takebacks are not allowed. Once the hand releases the piece, the move becomes part of the game.
Life follows the same rule.
Words spoken in anger cannot be made unspoken. Time that has passed cannot be recovered. A neglected relationship may not return to its earlier condition merely because we regret our behaviour. We may apologise, correct ourselves and make better choices, but we must continue from the position already created.
We cannot always erase the earlier move—but we can still play the present position intelligently.
This is one of the most hopeful lessons of Chess. Even after making a mistake, a player should not mentally resign. He must accept the position, search for the best available move and create new possibilities. Karma gives us the consequences of the past, but wisdom tells us what to do next.
The Opponent Represents the Challenges of the World
The opponent on the chessboard may be compared to the resistance we encounter in life. The world does not arrange itself entirely according to our wishes. Other people have their own plans, ambitions and interests. They also want to win their game. Competition exists, unexpected obstacles arise, and even a good plan may be met with a strong reply.
The opponent is not necessarily our enemy; the opponent is also our teacher. Without resistance, our intelligence would remain untested. A strong opponent exposes our weaknesses, compels us to improve and teaches us lessons that an easy victory never could.
To play this game successfully, we require the perseverance of Saturn, the speed and intelligence of Mercury, the courage and warrior instinct of Mars, the wisdom of Jupiter, the adaptability of the Moon and the confidence of the Sun.
Life, like Chess, requires the cooperation of many planetary qualities.
A Sacrifice Must Have a Greater Purpose
Chess also teaches us that gain does not always come from holding on to everything. Sometimes a player must sacrifice a Pawn or even a powerful chessman to gain time, open a line, protect the King or achieve checkmate.
Human life also demands sacrifices. We may sacrifice immediate comfort for education, personal pleasure for family responsibility, present income for a greater opportunity, or a cherished attachment for the fulfilment of dharma.
Sri Krishna left the loving world of Vrindavan and accepted the responsibilities of a much greater mission. The personal joy that was left behind became part of a higher purpose.
But a true sacrifice must be distinguished from a careless loss. Before sacrificing a chessman, a good player calculates the consequences. Is the sacrifice sound? Does it open the required line? Is there sufficient compensation? Does it serve a greater objective—or is it merely an impulsive move disguised as bravery?
The same questions must be asked in life. Sacrifice without wisdom may become waste. The value of a sacrifice depends not only upon what we surrender, but also upon why, when and for whom we surrender it.
Never Underestimate the Pawn
The Pawn is assigned the lowest material value, so beginners often treat it carelessly. Yet a single lost Pawn may create a weak square, expose the King or decide the endgame. A passed Pawn that reaches the eighth rank can become a Queen.
Life also contains many “Pawns”—small matters that appear unimportant but gradually shape our destiny. Dressing appropriately, maintaining a neat appearance, speaking politely, observing etiquette, arriving on time, walking confidently and respecting others may appear to be minor details. Yet these small habits influence how the world receives us.
Great reputations are often built from small disciplines, while great failures may begin with small acts of carelessness.
The Pawn therefore teaches us:
- Never call something insignificant merely because its present value appears small.
- The least-valued chessman carries the possibility of the greatest transformation.
Your Family Is Your Army
Every chessman has a different movement and purpose. The Rook cannot move like the Bishop; the Knight cannot move like the Queen. Yet victory becomes possible only when these different forces coordinate with one another.
Human relationships work in the same way. A father, mother, spouse, child, brother, sister, friend or relative may think and behave differently from us. Their role in our life may not always be immediately understood. But just as isolated pieces become vulnerable on the chessboard, isolated human beings become vulnerable in life.
Hold on to the people who truly stand with you. Protect your relationships as carefully as a skilled player protects his pieces. Communicate, cooperate and support one another. A coordinated group of modestly placed chessmen can defeat a collection of powerful but disconnected pieces.
On the board, when the pieces fail to protect one another, the opponent attacks them one by one. In life too, division weakens the family, while unity creates protection.
Yet coordination does not mean controlling every piece. A good player allows each chessman to perform according to its own nature. Similarly, a wise family gives every member space to express their individual strength while remaining united in purpose.
Protect the King, but Develop the Whole Army
The King is the purpose of the game, but the King cannot fight the battle alone. He requires Pawns for protection, pieces for defence and coordinated forces to resist the opponent.
Likewise, personal ambition cannot be pursued by neglecting health, family, character, friendship and peace of mind. A person may achieve professional success but discover that the rest of his “army” has disappeared. What then has truly been won?
A successful life requires development on every side of the board.
Think Before You Move
Chess trains a child to pause before acting. It teaches the child to ask:
What is my opponent threatening?
What will happen after I make this move?
Is this piece protected?
Am I acting with a plan?
What consequences might appear several moves later?
These are not merely Chess questions. They are questions for life.
A child who learns to think before moving a Pawn may gradually learn to think before speaking, spending, trusting, fighting or making an important decision. Chess develops patience, foresight, responsibility and respect for consequences.
This is why I always tell parents: Teach Chess to your child even before the child joins school.
School may teach children how to read and write. Chess begins teaching them how to think, how to choose and how to accept the consequences of their choices.
Life does not always tell us whether a move is right or wrong immediately. Sometimes the result appears only much later. But the principle remains unchanged:
Every choice is a move. Every consequence is a position. Every difficulty demands another decision. Until the game ends, always search for the best move available.
By Guruji E K Dhilip Kumar
Email : ekdhilipkumar@gmail.com
www.astrologyekdk.com
Watch my videos on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@EKDhilipKumarAstrologer
Read this article to enhance your knowledge : https://www.astrologyekdk.com/blog/the-top-5-mistakes-an-astrologer-can-make. (The Top 5 mistakes an Astrologer can make)
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