Round the Board in 99 names

There is a distinctly 'Nasrudinesque' (Helper of Faith) quality to Quaternity, reflected in the following ways:

1. He laughs at you.

2. You laugh with him.

3. He wakes you up.

4. You cannot grasp him.

5. He questions your certainties.

6. He breaks your fixed ideas.

7. He laughs at you if you refuse to learn.

8. He is old yet appears young.

9. He is a mirror in which you see yourself.

10. He is a great teacher, though he does not seem to be one.

11. Just when you think you have understood him; he changes form.

Quaternity is an ideal tool for learning—provided one does not become discouraged and lose sight of the many benefits it holds. In this sense, it embodies Al-Mumin, the Inspirer of Faith. Above all, it is a game of patience—Al-Sabur, the Patient.

The journey begins with familiarization: understanding the general rules, learning the positioning of the pieces, mastering attack and defense, and absorbing other technical aspects. But soon, the deeper lessons emerge—ones that challenge, surprise, and transform the player in unexpected ways.

As we begin to see—Al-Basir, the Seer of All—and comprehend the vastness of the board—Al-Wasi, the All-Comprehending—possibilities for decisive action start to emerge, allowing for the potential conquering of another army through checkmate—Al-Wayid, the Finder.

If one delivers the first checkmate, the remaining two players will likely feel threatened by the new imbalance of power—Al-Qawi, the Possessor of All Strength—and, without explicitly forming an alliance (as it is against the rules), they may instinctively coordinate attacks against their common enemy—Al-Muntaqim, the Avenger.

This often, but not always, leads to defeat, depending not only on how one manages an expanded army—Al-Wali, the Governor—but also on the effectiveness of the counterattacks. If their offensive is not well-coordinated, or if one of them turns against the other, an opportunity arises to regain control—Al-Afu, the Forgiver.

With superior numbers and effective management, a second checkmate may follow. From there, the third and final checkmate becomes significantly easier, as each victory increases one's advantage—Al-Warith, the Inheritor of All.

However, another possibility exists: two or three players may concentrate their attacks on a single opponent from the outset—Ad-Darr, the Creator of the Harmful. In such cases, escape is nearly impossible. Yet one must not be discouraged, for the wind can shift unexpectedly, altering the game in miraculous ways. The key is to endure—As-Salam, the Saviour; Al-Matin, the Forceful One.

The combinations are infinite. Anything can happen—Al-Qadir, the All-Powerful.

Experiencing these diverse possibilities is immensely enriching—Al-Mughni, the Enricher—especially when considering that, even subconsciously, familiarity with these processes reshapes our perception—Al-Latif, the Subtle One.

This influence is inherently positive, as it opens new neural pathways and expands inner awareness—Al-Fattah, the Opener.

As a tool for self-observation, Quaternity is invaluable—Al-Basir, the Seer of All—since our reactions continuously reveal themselves throughout the game. We may be surprised to feel fear, anxiety, excitement, competitiveness, courage, frustration, or any combination of emotions. The most obvious polarity manifests in the experience of winning or losing, elation or disappointment.

I still recall the emotions of my early games: insecurity, fear, grief, even anger. Equally vivid are the feelings of triumph—self-affirmation, increased confidence, and deep satisfaction—Al-Muizz, the Bestower of Honours.

Over time, fear dissipated, replaced by a calm awareness. I came to understand that the wind could change the course of the game at any moment, even when my army was reduced to just a few pieces. I learned to trust these shifts while also keenly observing my opponents' weaknesses and strengths. I encouraged myself to make intuitive decisions—Al-Hadi, the Guide—even when they lacked immediate logical justification. More often than not, moves that seemed irrational at first revealed their value several turns later—Al-Wakil, the Trustee.

Through practice, I also developed a deeper respect for opponents with superior skill, particularly those with extensive experience in traditional chess, which naturally sharpens reflexes and enhances positional and tactical awareness—Al-Muhsi, the Appraiser.

Being under attack, whether by one or multiple players, triggers an instinctual survival response—fight or flight. One must quickly assess the board, minimizing losses or even sacrificing pieces strategically to disrupt an opponent's momentum—Al-Hafiz, the Preserver.

I have witnessed games where an army on the brink of defeat miraculously turned the tide, surviving against all odds. This is because in Quaternity Chess, threats are multidirectional, requiring constant full-board awareness—Al-Wasi, the All-Comprehending.

This adaptability is crucial, and if a player does not initially possess it, they will eventually develop it—assuming they endure the inevitable testing phase, which can be challenging.

With time, emotional reactions give way to a steady composure, allowing for clearer perception of one's own moves and those of others. Impulsive moves driven by emotion are no longer made, as players recognize that in Quaternity Chess—unlike traditional chess—becoming locked in a battle with a single opponent benefits the other two players—Al-Qabid, the Constrictor.

For this reason, it is unwise to relentlessly pursue one player or retaliate impulsively when under attack. Those who do so will soon realize the futility of such an approach.

There are exceptions, of course. A head-to-head battle between two pairs of players—White and Red against Black and Green, for instance—can sometimes unfold—Al-Muqsit, the Equitable One. In such a case, each pair will be too engaged in their own struggle to interfere with the other, leading to a decisive final confrontation between the respective victors.

Beyond individual learning and personal growth, there is another remarkable aspect of this game that deserves mention.

Quaternity allows anyone to win—Al-Adl, the Just. Being highly skilled or experienced does not always guarantee victory.

It depends.

And it depends on many factors, which can only be fully grasped through repeated play. Sometimes it is one thing, sometimes another.

This alternation between winning and losing mirrors life itself, with its unpredictable turns, often beyond justification or explanation. Though sometimes perplexing, this fluctuation serves a purpose: it helps neutralize extremes, allowing us to step beyond polarity into a deeper, more stable inner state. It echoes the words of Rumi:

"Beyond any idea of good or evil, there is a field. I will meet you there."

Meanwhile, the desire to win or avoid defeat drives us to improve our skills, which in itself is a worthy pursuit—An-Nafi, the Creator of Good. Indirectly, it also fosters the development of our inner faculties, a process that this game stimulates through necessity—Ar-Raqib, the Watchful One.

Gradually, conditioning wears away, drawing us closer to the essence of the game—playing for the sake of the game itself, beyond winning and losing.

Paradoxically, this detachment from the final outcome places us in a freer state of mind, allowing us to recognize game situations that are hiding in plain sight. Success is then measured not just by victory but by the elegance of a well-crafted strategy and the sheer beauty of the unfolding patterns on the board—Al-Musawwir, the Shaper of Beauty.

“The simplicity of the beautiful move, and how it hid in plain view until the time was right.” 1

But the game also takes us on a journey—moving from hope to frustration, from collaboration to competition, and from frustration back to satisfaction and renewed intention. This cyclical process seems to be woven into the very fabric of Quaternity, offering not just an engaging experience with friends but also the opportunity to grasp deeper truths along the way.

Truths that Rumi expresses so clearly in the following verses:

“(Showing that) the annulment and destruction of (human) resolutions (is) in order to let man know that He (God) is the Lord and the Almighty; and His occasional non-annulment of his (man’s) resolution and His carrying it into effect (is) in order that hope may urge him to form a resolution, so that He again may destroy it, to the end that warning may follow on warning.”

“In the course of events your resolutions and purposes now and then come right (are fulfilled),

In order that, through hope of that (fulfilment), your heart may form an intention, and that He may once more destroy your intention. For if He would keep you wholly unsuccessful, your heart would despair: how would it sow (the seed of) expectation? And unless it sowed (the seed of) expectation, how from its barrenness would its subjection (to the Divine will) become apparent to it?” 2

One of the key insights that can be drawn from this is that winning and losing are ultimately secondary. What truly matters is the aspiration to develop—and to align oneself with—that singular state of consciousness that transcends duality. (Al-Ahad, the One.)

“When did Omar argue that the One was two?” 3

“One by one is one, no more, no less, error begins with duality, Unity knows no error.” 4

Also, in the alternation of these two principles—defeating and being defeated—we can observe the manifestation of the Divine attributes: Ar-Rafi, the Exalter, or Al-Aziz, the Victorious, alongside their complementary opposites, Al-Khafid, the Abaser, or Al-Mudhill, the Humiliator.

When a checkmate occurs, the presence of Al-Mumit, the Taker of Life, and Al-Muhyi, the Giver of Life, is simultaneously revealed. In Quaternity Chess, this dynamic takes on an even deeper meaning, as the defeated army's pieces are absorbed into the army that delivered the checkmate, effectively increasing its strength and extending its life.

The following concept, taken from Operation: Human Freedom, highlights a present reality in which chess serves as a reflection of the dominant characteristics of an era and society, as well as the necessity for transformation and evolution.

“The main way of the control system is to keep humanity in competitive conflict (‘Chess is war’). The path of Human Freedom is in cooperation and cohesion (‘Quaternity is Life’). These are the polarities at play”. 5

It is also worth recalling the following concept:

“One of the most important factors in Quaternity is the human element”. 6

J. Romano

1. 2. 2021

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1 "Introduction to "International Rules of Quaternity". A.Shah

2 "Mathnavi" Book 3. J. Rumi. p. 383-4

3 "The Rubaiyyat of Omar Khayaam". O.A.Shah & R. Graves. p.76

4 "The Walled Garden of Truth". H. Sanai. p.28

5 "Operation: Human Freedom". K. S. Perl. p. 94

(In brackets my addition, taken from a text by A. Shah on Qchess).

6 "Introduction to "International Rules of Quaternity". A.Shah.

7 Selection of Divine Attributes taken from "The Most Beautiful Names of God". Sheikh Tosun Bayrak