💡📝Jose Carrillo wrote on Sun, Dec 28, 2008 03:02 PM UTC:
I admit the queen and schleich are weak pieces, specially the schleich. I played a OTB game and ended up with two queens (on the same color) and a schleich versus a lonely king, and wasn't able to force a mate, so I had to agree to a draw. But that was before I adopted the 'Bare King' rule, which would mean that even the two queens and schleich ending would be a win.
I play a lot of Makruk (Thai Chess) so I know how to mate with three queens (one of opposite color) and I find that ending quite enjoyable. I'm not too crazy about the schleich, but replacing it with another Man would be replacing it with a too powerful piece, plus in my view, it would take away the 'flavour' of Courier Chess.
While slow, the Schleich can actually reach all 96 squares on the board (something a Queen can't do), and the Schleich can be used as a defensive piece protecting any piece horizontally or vertically next to it.
From playing practice it appears that the Man and the new Elephant are similar in power with the Bishop (Courier), so now you have four pieces that can be exchanged between them (Bishop for Knight, for Elephant or for Man; Knight for Elephant or Man; Elephant for Man) and still keep a balanced and interesting game. I don't intend to remove the original queen; and I will keep the schleich for another while, the jury is still out.
The Bishop Adjustment rule is intended for variants where the Bishops start up on the same color, which is not the case (so far) for Courier Chess and it's variants.
I play a lot of Makruk (Thai Chess) so I know how to mate with three queens (one of opposite color) and I find that ending quite enjoyable. I'm not too crazy about the schleich, but replacing it with another Man would be replacing it with a too powerful piece, plus in my view, it would take away the 'flavour' of Courier Chess.
While slow, the Schleich can actually reach all 96 squares on the board (something a Queen can't do), and the Schleich can be used as a defensive piece protecting any piece horizontally or vertically next to it.
From playing practice it appears that the Man and the new Elephant are similar in power with the Bishop (Courier), so now you have four pieces that can be exchanged between them (Bishop for Knight, for Elephant or for Man; Knight for Elephant or Man; Elephant for Man) and still keep a balanced and interesting game. I don't intend to remove the original queen; and I will keep the schleich for another while, the jury is still out.
The Bishop Adjustment rule is intended for variants where the Bishops start up on the same color, which is not the case (so far) for Courier Chess and it's variants.
Thanks for your feedback.