The site has moved to a new server, and there are now some issues to fix. For example, it looks like you can't post comments. I will look into that in the morning.



The Chess Variant Pages



This page is written by the game's inventor, Eric Greenwood.

Hans 38Special

This is an entry of Eric Greenwood for the contest to design a chess variant on a board with 38 squares.

Description

            1   2   3   4   5   6      
              +---+ 
     H        |*B*|                  H  
          +---+---+---+---+---+---+       
     G    |*N*|*B*|*G*|*K*|*S*|*D*|  G
          +---+---+---+---+---+---+
     F    |*Be|*Sh|*Ch|*Ch|*Sh|*Be|  F
          +---+---+---+---+---+---+
     E    |   |   |   |   |   |   |  E
          +---+---+---+---+---+---+
     D    |   |   |   |   |   |   |  D 
          +---+---+---+---+---+---+
     C    | Be| Sh| Ch| Ch| Sh| Be|  C   
          +---+---+---+---+---+---+
     B    | D | S | K | G | B | N |  B
          +---+---+---+---+---+---+
     A                    | B |      A
                          +---+
            1   2   3   4   5   6
Drops are allowed; promotion is on any enemy setup square. This game was designed specifically with Hans37 pieces in mind!

Pawns 'n' Pieces

Pawns

Be: Berolina Pawn
moves diagonally forward 1 and takes forward 1. Promotes to Wazir.
Sh: Shatranj Pawn
moves forward 1 and takes diagonally forward 1. Promotes to Firzan.
Ch: Chinese pawn
moves and takes 1 forward. Promotes to "A" (Across the river) by crossing the middle of the board.

Pieces

D: Dabbabah
moves to the second square horizontally or vertically, and may move w/o capturing to the 1st horiz. or Vert. square. Promotes to Rook.
N: Chinese kNightrider
moves like a knight, but MUST move the first part of the move to an unoccupied horizontal or vertical square before going to the diagonal. (May not Jump.) As long as there is a clear path, the piece may keep going in the same direction. Promotes to Tiger.
B: Short Bishop
May move 1 or 2 squares diagonally only, and may not Jump to the 2nd square. Promotes to Full Bishop.
S: Silver
moves as Shogi Silver. Promotes to Gold.
G: Gold
moves as Shogi Gold. Promotes to Wolf.

Promotions

Firzan
promoted Shatranj Pawn. Moves 1 square diagonally.
Wazir
promoted Berolina Pawn. Moves 1 square Horiz. or Vert.
Across
Chinese pawn past midway. Moves forward or sideways. If moved into the "citadel" square, becomes piece-in-hand.
Rook
promoted Dabbabah. As Chess Rook.
Bishop
promoted short bishop. As Chess Bishop.
Tiger
promoted kNightrider. As Chess Knight,(may Jump now)plus may move 1 square any direction.
Wolf
promoted Gold. Moves 1 square any except straight back.
Well, have fun w/ it-that's what counts! :)

Comment by HB

Although not mentioned explicitly, it is clear from Eric's description that orthodox chess rules as check, mate, stalemate, apply; the K is the king, that moves as in orthodox chess.
Written by Eric Greenwood. Html-makeup and comment added by Hans Bodlaender.
This is an entry in the Contest to make a chess variant on a board with 38 squares.
WWW page created: October 24, 1997. Last modified: March 2, 1998.