EasyHistory

"I mean the king is trapped. I end the game in an instant. I come from two Persian words about a helpless king. What am I?"

?

Take a moment to ponder before you face the answer...

Answer

Checkmate

Explanation

Checkmate comes from the Persian 'shah mat' — 'shah' means king, and 'mat' is usually translated as helpless or defeated (sometimes, more dramatically, dead). It is the winning move in chess — when the king is in a position where it cannot escape capture. The game ends immediately.

This is an easy riddle in the History category — Riddles about ancient civilisations, invention, and mythology.

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Tags:sportchesshistory