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The Piececlopedia is intended as a scholarly reference concerning the history and naming conventions of pieces used in Chess variants. But it is not a set of standards concerning what you must call pieces in newly invented games.

The Piececlopedia: Reflecting Bishop

Historic remarks

Like the Archbishop, which it resembles, the exact origins of this piece are unknown (if you have more information, please let us know). The earliest reference I have to it is Billiards Chess, which was invented by M. Jacques Berthoumeau in the 1950's, but the piece was most likely not new then.

The Reflecting Bishop is a fairly popular piece, and is used in a number of games, including: Billards Chess, Billards Progressive Chess, Edgehog Chess, Knighrider Bouncy Chess, Lambeth Conference Chess and Squarcle Chess.

Movement rules

The Reflecting Bishop moves like a normal chess Bishop, but it has the additional power of reflecting off the side of the board at a 90 degree angle. It may not move to the square on which it starts its move.

Movement diagram

In the diagram below, the Reflecting Bishop, which is traditionally symbolized by an upside-down bishop, can move to all the squares marked with a black circle.










Written by Peter Aronson.
WWW page created: August 29th, 2001.