Skirmish Chess

Introduction

On the Modest Array page:
http://www.chessvariants.org/other.dir/modest-array.html

This variant was discussed. It is entered here in order to be able to be discussed because that page is not indexed.

Setup

White's back rank is empty and White's chessmen are moved up to the third rank (pawns) and the second rank (non-pawns); Black's chessmen are similarly arrayed, with pawns on the sixth rank and non-pawns on the seventh rank. Pawns do not have a double-step option on their first move.

Pieces

Same as in standard FIDE Chess.

Rules

Same as in standard FIDE Chess, except for set-up.

Notes

This entry is being done so that Skirmish Chess will get indexed and able to be discussed.

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Author: Rich Hutnik. Inventor: Tony Paletta.
Web page created: 2001-05-06. Web page last updated: 2008-04-09

Skirmish Chess. Tony Paletta Modest proposal as separate link for discussion. (8x8, Cells: 64)

Rich Hutnik Verified as Rich Hutnik wrote on 2008-04-09 None

Want to have a streamlined (less kludgy) version of chess with enough depth to it that you won't get bored as you teach newbies? You want to have it so that they are also open to variants? A newbie should be able to get going fully in less than 5 minutes. Well, consider Skirmish Chess (this game), with the following changes: When you teach the game, don't teach castling, and en passant is moot here (it doesn't have it). Also pawns only move one way. Also go with capture the enemy king instead of checkmate. Also, limit promotion to the basic set of pieces. You have a decent game that will be able to entertain yourself, and get people playing a form of chess that isn't trivial, and will get them going. I believe this version would appeal to newbies, because it has a lot of action early in it, and a bunch of captures. It should be noted that the changes above were added to Skirmish Chess, for a new variant called 'Near Chess'. It is entered into the CV site and can be found here: http://www.chessvariants.org/index/msdisplay.php?itemid=MSnearchess

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Rich Hutnik Verified as Rich Hutnik wrote on 2008-04-09 Good ★★★★

I have been playing around with this in Zillions, adding Capablanca pieces and found it is a very interesting design. I am planning on having this game modified to the IAGO Chess System framework, complete with Capablanca pieces in it, in the next few weeks. I am doing this entry separately to discuss it, as I happened to also stumble across it while working on an attempt to port Grand Chess to an 8x8 board.

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