Pedro Damiano

Pedro Damiano, born in 1480 in Odemira, Portugal, was a multifaceted individual known for his contributions to chess as a player, writer, and theoretician, as well as his profession as a pharmacist. His most notable work, Questo libro e da imparare giocare a scachi et de li partiti, was published in Rome in 1512 and became a cornerstone in chess literature, going through eight editions in the sixteenth century.

In his book, Damiano meticulously outlines the rules of chess, offers strategic advice, and presents a selection of chess problems, complete with diagrams. He is credited with the earliest definitive statement that the square on the right of the row closest to each player must be white. Additionally, he delves into the realm of blindfold chess, emphasizing the importance of mastering notation based on numbering the squares from one to sixty-four, a system that resonates with the checkers family.

Damiano's work also touches upon the origins of chess, suggesting that it was invented by Xerxes, which explains its nomenclature in Portuguese as xadrez and in Spanish as ajedrez. These terms trace their roots back to the Sanskrit word chaturaṅga, passing through Persian and Arabic influences.

Among the many insights in his writings, one of the most famous chess aphorisms, "If you see a good move, try to find a better one," is often misattributed to other chess masters but can be found in Damiano's text. This sentiment echoes earlier expressions by al-Suli regarding shatranj, the Persian precursor to chess. Despite his significant contributions, some historians, including José Antonio Garzón, suggest that 'Pedro Damiano' may have been a pseudonym, with the true authorship of the book possibly belonging to Francesc Vicent.