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Game Reviews by JianyingJi

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ximeracak.. A leaper-heavy fantasy variant designed for play with a standard set. (8x8, Cells: 64) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Thu, Aug 22, 2002 01:10 AM UTC:Good ★★★★
It might be interesting to try the following modest variant of ximeracak:

0: all rules as Ximeracak except as noted below
1: when the general is under check it can switch with
   the pegasus, provided of course the pegusus is not
   also attacked.

This simple modification will increase the pegasus's streategic value
which will make people be more careful before putting pegasus in harm's
way, and keep it in the game for the end game. In fact it should have
the overall effect of decreasing the apeal of captures in the game.

Afterlife Chess. A game based on Ancient Egyption mythology, played on four boards totaling 42 squares. (Cells: 42) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Tue, Jul 30, 2002 12:02 AM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
this is really cool! conceptually cohesive with every element contributing

Burmese Traditional Chess. An article that discusses chess as it was played in Burma. (8x8, Cells: 64) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Mon, Jul 29, 2002 04:33 PM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
this is absolutely amazing. a very clear exposition and easy to follow.

The thing that intrigues me the most is a move leading to stalemate is
not allowed. which get's away from the fuddily rules in FIDE and other
variants dealing with stalemates. I think this is a worthwhile rule to 
adopt in other variants.

Rental Chess. You must pay rent for the squares where your pieces are: centre squares are more expensive. (8x8, Cells: 64) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Thu, Jul 11, 2002 08:46 PM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
This variant can be easily handicapped by giving the weaker player 
an extra amount of zorkmids at the start. the amount depending on
the deference between the players.

Spinach Chess. Right to make powerfull move alternates between players in variant with two kings. (8x8, Cells: 68) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Fri, Jun 21, 2002 08:37 PM UTC:Good ★★★★
I would suggest that at the beginning of the game only allow the black
player to spinnach, this would balance the first move advantage.

InterGrid Chess. Pieces on corners and on centers of squares of 8 by 8 board. (8x8, Cells: 145) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Sun, Jun 16, 2002 06:24 PM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
Sometimes a random search can come up with amazing things, I was
searching for some material for an variant of mine when I came across
this item. It is very well illustrated and strait forward and provides
a good blueprint for how intergrid peice should work. very nice work
indeed.

Emulation Chess. Pieces have no move of their own, but move instead like adjacent pieces of either side. (8x8, Cells: 64) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Sat, Jun 15, 2002 06:55 PM UTC:Good ★★★★
Nice concept and very cleanly explained, however the example might be
flawed, since e1-d2 should be illeagal for it moves white king into
check, because the black king has the backing of a queen so it can
move as a queen and take take the white king in the next move. a
black bishop instead of queen would work.

Imitating Chess. Pieces move as the last moved piece.[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Mon, May 13, 2002 03:49 AM UTC:Good ★★★★
Every move imitates the ability of the piece moved before, except the
first move for nothing is before it. What if time is circular, in that
spirit I propose the following variant:

As a first move, any piece can be moved with any power, however this
implies the last move must be made with a piece with such power, and
any move during the game that would make such a ending impossible is 
declared illeagal.

Primitive Chess. Short-range major pieces and no pawns, but a piece like an apprentice for each major piece. (8x8, Cells: 64) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Sat, May 11, 2002 09:58 PM UTC:Good ★★★★
Since the major pieces in the back row are weak, it might make sense for
the following variant:

No apprentices, Just the backrow pieces. and have the pieces promote to
full strength when they reach the backrow. With the same object of
checkmating the king.

Zelig Chess. Game where the power of the pieces varies based on their position. (8x8, Cells: 64) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Fri, May 10, 2002 12:33 AM UTC:Good ★★★★
This game is highly remaniscent of Capriccio described by Mark Thompson
at
http://home.flash.net/~markthom/html/capriccio.html. though maybe arguably

better since the goal is better defined.

Warp Point Chess. Knights are replaced by Warp Points that other pieces can move between. (8x8, Cells: 64) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Tue, Apr 30, 2002 10:50 AM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
Absolutely cool! Very well explained! Simpler in feel and direct in play 
#than some of the other similar ideaed games

Tauschach. Each player has one piece off the board, that can be switched every turn with one of his pieces but not the king. (8x8, Cells: 64) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Sat, Apr 20, 2002 04:28 PM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
Excelent and under-appreciated gem! In a few game of this variant, 
I found how the simplest change alters the game dramatically. For
example this variant makes bishop no longer color bound, and 
nullifies the use of castling.

CrownA game information page
. Players secretly decide whether their king or queen (who moves like the king) is royal.[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Fri, Apr 19, 2002 02:53 PM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
Excellent piece of detective work and extrapolation!

The Game of Nemoroth. For the sake of your sanity, do not read this variant! (8x8, Cells: 64) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Jianying Ji wrote on Tue, Apr 9, 2002 05:41 PM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
Absolutely great, in coherence of theme and originality!

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