Chess was invented in INDIA.

Chess Odyssey 

Yes chess  nascent in INDIA (so called Bharat). 280 – 550 CE (ChandraGupta Empire) was the era when Chaturanga (Chess) flourished. Prior it was known as Chaturanga (Sanskrit word - translated as 4 limbs which is consist of infantry, cavalry, elephant and chariotry. These pieces eventually gave birth to modern knight, bishop, and rook, respectively.

Radha Krishn Enjoying there company palying Chaturanga.

Radha and Krishna Playing Chaturanga this indicates its
antediluvian existance. 

The history of chess spans some 1500 years. The game originated in northern India in the 6th century AD and spread to Persia. When the Arabs conquered Persia, chess was taken up by the Muslim world and subsequently, through the Moorish conquest of Spain, spread to Southern Europe.

Proliferation  of  CHATURANGA 

Hiatus of the Game:

• 600AD: first clear reference to chess, in a Persian manuscript.
• 
  ~700AD: date of first undoubted chess pieces.
• 
  800AD: Moors bring chess to Spain and Sicily.
• 900AD: early Muslim chess masters, as-Suli and al-Lajlaj write works on the technique of chess.
• 
  1000AD: chess widespread in Europe, including Russia.
• 1300AD: first European comments on chess in sermons and stories.
• 1475–1500AD: birth of the modern game: especially, new moves for queen and bishop.
• 
  1495: first printed chess book. 1497: first printed chess book to survive to the present day.
• 1600: first professional player-writers.
• 1780s: first master games to be recorded as they were played.
• 1836: first chess magazine.
• 1849: first national chess tournament. 1851: first international chess tournament.
• 1866: first match to be timed by clock.
• 1883: first tournament to use specially designed chess clocks.
• 1886: first acknowledged world championship match.

As odyssey went on transformation, modification and alteration took place according to convenience. The game assigned several names during the journey  time to time. 

It is assumed that before CE (Chandragupta Empire) there were used to be 1000 blocks and on which game used to be played. The Aboriginal Chaturanga was the pioneer of the several Strategic Game which we play now a days.

Chaturanga gave birth to Chess, Board Games, Strategic games , Monopoly and many more.

So next time when you play any Strategic game keep in mind Chess is Father who gave birth to all of them.