Mad Queen Chess

[in homage to this week's opening, the Queen's Gambit]

At the end of the 15^th century, the rules underwent a sudden sea change. The queen transformed from the weakest piece on the board to the strongest [consequently modern chess was referred to as "Queen"s Chess" or "Mad Queen Chess".]! At the same time, the bishop became the long-range piece that it is today. These changes quickened the game's pace. The battle was intensified. Mistakes were harshly punished, tabiyas [midgame starting positions to speed up the game] were no longer necessary, and violent checkmates were executed much more often than before. The inventor of these changes is unknown; probably the new rules were not thought up by an individual, but came about from collective experimentation. These new rules were standardized by the 16^th century advent of mass production and the printing press. The faster paced game was more suitable for organized play, chess notation, codified rules, and strategy books.

source :: USCF Chess History