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Conditional chess

Conditional chess is a recent variant, which was invented by Joao Pedro Neto around 1996.

Rules

The rules of orthodox chess apply, with the following exceptions:

1. Each turn consists of the following steps:
1. White makes a normal move (A-move).
2. White states a conditional move. (Below, you find explained what is a conditional move.)
3. Black makes a normal move (B-move).
4. Whites conditional move is executed (C-move).
5. Black makes a normal move (A-move).
6. Black states a conditional move. (Below, you find explained what is a conditional move.)
7. White makes a normal move (B-move).
8. Blacks conditional move is executed (C-move).

There is an exception to this general scheme in case of checks.

2. Checks:
1. The only allowed check in A-moves is when there is checkmate! If one player cannot prevent check in an A-move (and it's not checkmate), it's a draw (variant: the player loose the game).
2. If there is a check in a B-move, the C-move is skipped (except if the check is cancelled by the C-move itself!) and the game returns to an A-move of the player in check (checks in B-moves aren't so great!), unless it's checkmate and then the game is over.
3. There are no restrictions to C-move checks.
3. If a C-move is an illegal move, it is skipped. (One possible variant: in this case, the other player can move whatever enemy piece he likes (legal move, of course) Terrible!! :-) In this variant, each game is a legal FIDE game.)
4. If there is a stalemate it's a draw.

Conditional Moves (C-moves)

A conditional move consists of three parts: the condition, the then-move, and the else-move. The following types of conditions can be used:

• Is a specified square empty?
• Is there an enemy piece on a specified square?
• Is there a specified enemy piece on a specified square?

The then-move and the else-move are moves for the player that states the C-move. We can use the following syntax:

syntax: condition?then-move/else-move

A C-move is executed as follows:

If condition is true, then the player makes the then-move, if not, he makes the else-move.

Here are some examples of conditions:

• a8? => is square a8 empty?
• Bg5? => An enemy bishop is in g5?
• Pe2? => An enemy pawn is in e2?
• Eg7? => There is an enemy piece in g7?

Here are some examples of conditional moves:

• d2?Nh4/e6 => If d2 is empty, then make move Nh4, else, make move e6
• Nh5?gxh5/g5 => If there is a Knight in h5, move gxh5, else, move g5.
• Pb4?Na2/Ncd3 => If there is a Pawn in b4, move Na2, else, move Ncd3.

Note: it is allowed to have a C-move with the then-move and the else-move equals. As in this case, the condition is not relevant, it is omitted from the notation, and one writes: !move. Examples of this are:

• h5?Qe2/Qe2 <=> !Qe2
• Ea1?Ra1/Rxa1 <=> !Ra1

Sample game

Cristina Matos - Joao Pedro Neto (April 16, 1996)

1. e4 d5
2. !d4

Note that 2. !d4 is planned before 1. ... d5 appears!

2. ..., dxe4
3. Bg5, Bg5?*Nf6*/c4

I use *...* to indicate what move was made. In 3. ... Bg5?*Nf6*/c4 black asked if there is a bishop in g5, white played 3. Bg5, so the condition is true, the then-move is executed.

4. Qxd4, Be7
5. Bb4?Qxb4/*Bb5*, ...

This was to prevent Bb4+.

5. ..., c6
6. Ba4, Ef6?Bxf6/*d5*

Using Ef6? black prevents Qxf6 and Bxf6!

7. Bxf6, Bxf6
8. Bf6?*Qb4*/Be5, dxe4
9. Qxb7, !Qe7

White saw that he can take b7 without any problem, black will play Qe7.

10. Qxa1, Bb2
11. Qb2?Qxb2/Qxc3, ...

Taking the tower was an allusion. The Queen is lost! Bb2 invalidate the white C-move!

11. ..., Bxa1
12. Nc3, c3?Bxb2/*e3*
13. fxe3, O-O
14. Kg8?/*Rd1*/Nf3, Rd8

White cannot choose Rxd8 in the next move (it's an A-move!)

15. Bxc6, Nd5?cxd5/*Bb2*
16. Bxb2, Qxe3+
17. Td1/Kxd1/e4, ...

A check in a B-move! White can move again.

17. Nge2, Nc6
18. Bc3?bxc3/*Rf1*, Nb4

White must protect c2, or else... (of course, black knows that :-)

19. Rc1, Rc1?*Bd4*/g5

Black cannot choose Rc1?Bd4/Nc2 because of Rd2 and then Rxc2

20. Rf3, Qf1+
21. e3?*Rg1*/Rxe3, Bf2++

A check in an A-move, but also a checkmate!

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Created on: April 18, 1996. Last modified on: September 29, 2001.

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Last modified: Monday, December 22, 2008