Kevin Pacey wrote on Mon, Jan 10, 2022 10:55 AM EST:
A fresh replacement CV for chess discussion really should be in a NextChess thread, but I chose to put it in this more recent thread. All the same, the Next Chess (if ever one) strongly relates to the future of chess variants, as it is from the best CVs that a Next Chess (or more than one) will be born.
Does there have to be only one Next Chess, in terms of one being the number one popular variant? I used to think so, though some have argued that since various forms of Poker are played and are each successful, there is room for more than one popular Next Chess. Right now, the undeniable Classics are chess, shogi and Chinese Chess, but with chess suspected to be most popular (600 million adults says FIDE) - some say Chinese Chess must be played more, but I haven't found authoritative figures.
Anyway, chess is showing its age, and many think it will be played out sooner or later, opening theory-wise. Lots of draws at elite level, or engine level. Otherwise, chess would be a fine game - the fact it is a managable (and square) 8x8 size makes it all the nicer. However, for there to be longevity to a CV, it may require more pieces in the setup than 16 per side - or 9x9 shogi's 20 per side. That's where 10x10 comes in, perhaps. Even if Grand Chess is a winner as a Next Chess, at least there are 100 cells to play the game on, so opening theory is also hard to exhaust, that way. Plus, a nice square 10x10 board may be still managable for most people, compared to 12x12.
I'm for listing candidates, then narrowing them down if possible, to get one Next Chess. If that's not easy, maybe the more CVs the merrier, if lots of people play each. CVP website can be viewed as a lab where we try to come up with winning CV designs, and test them, or at least rate them.
A fresh replacement CV for chess discussion really should be in a NextChess thread, but I chose to put it in this more recent thread. All the same, the Next Chess (if ever one) strongly relates to the future of chess variants, as it is from the best CVs that a Next Chess (or more than one) will be born.
Does there have to be only one Next Chess, in terms of one being the number one popular variant? I used to think so, though some have argued that since various forms of Poker are played and are each successful, there is room for more than one popular Next Chess. Right now, the undeniable Classics are chess, shogi and Chinese Chess, but with chess suspected to be most popular (600 million adults says FIDE) - some say Chinese Chess must be played more, but I haven't found authoritative figures.
Anyway, chess is showing its age, and many think it will be played out sooner or later, opening theory-wise. Lots of draws at elite level, or engine level. Otherwise, chess would be a fine game - the fact it is a managable (and square) 8x8 size makes it all the nicer. However, for there to be longevity to a CV, it may require more pieces in the setup than 16 per side - or 9x9 shogi's 20 per side. That's where 10x10 comes in, perhaps. Even if Grand Chess is a winner as a Next Chess, at least there are 100 cells to play the game on, so opening theory is also hard to exhaust, that way. Plus, a nice square 10x10 board may be still managable for most people, compared to 12x12.
I'm for listing candidates, then narrowing them down if possible, to get one Next Chess. If that's not easy, maybe the more CVs the merrier, if lots of people play each. CVP website can be viewed as a lab where we try to come up with winning CV designs, and test them, or at least rate them.