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A Taxonomy. Categorizing several types of pieces.[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Levi Aho wrote on Wed, Dec 12, 2007 12:50 PM UTC:Good ★★★★

This is a really well done explanation of the various type of pieces that have been invented so far. While missing out on a few advanced concepts (mostly from large Shogi variants), it covers all the common (and much of the uncommon) variables very well.

Under movement, a stepper and multiple steppers deserve some mention. Single step pieces, like the King, Commoner, various Shogi Generals, Fers, Wazir, etc. are really a class all thier own. While they can be interpreted as either short range riders or leapers, they aren't really either.

Multi steppers, such as the Chu Shogi Lion make several moves as single steps. Other multi steppers are a sort of limited range rider. They can only stop at thier far square, but must pass through the other squares on the way. The Xiang Qi Horse is a bent piece of this sort.

Some mention of the special subcase of rider, the slider, should be made. A slider moves by multible steps (like a Rook, Bishop, Queen, or Lance). A non-sliding rider moves by multiple leaps (like the Knightrider and other oblique riders).

Under capture, you should mention that some peices (again from obscure Shogi variants) can capture friendly peices as well.

Some mention of restricted movement zones could be useful as well. The most well known examples are from Xiang Qi, where the Elephant cannot cross the river and the General and Advisors cannot leave the palace.

A related concept from Janggi (or Changgi), Korean chess, is enhanced movement zones. Various pieces have additional powers of movement when in the palace.

I'm sure there are some other things that are missing as well, but that's what I've noticed at this time.