Chess

Chess represents a confrontation between opposites, often of a spiritual or psychological nature. The square board with its 64 squares and 32 pieces is a symbol of wholeness. (Compare with Four.)

An old belief was that games like chess reflected the games of the gods, evoking a sense of the microcosm and fate.  

At least during the medieval period, there were also erotic associations with the game. It was socially acceptable for a man and a woman to sit alone at the chessboard, where they would try to maneuver their pieces in a courtship dance, until one of the parties was "captured."

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