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Carlos Cetina wrote on Tue, Nov 17, 2009 07:32 PM UTC:
We can update gradually the Piececlopedia devoting each day some minutes to add new piece descriptions by means of this subject of the Comments and Ratings section. The basic idea is to make little changes to the text show below, that it's a reproduction of the Piececlopedia index in which I have added a few new pieces to show how we can work on the matter.

If anyone wants to contribute, copy the text written by me with HTML tags from the editing page and paste it into the box of the new comment where the additions will be done. Special, detailed descriptions of any particular piece can be made by creating one subject by piece with its respective link in the index. Subsequent contributors would do the same with the work of the last predecessor; thus, the last work would be always the updated Piececlopedia and periodically (every 6 months, say) Fergus could transfer the document to its original place.

I propose to destinate a space at the end of the document for comments and a short explanation about what the contributor has done.

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A

Aanca. Historic piece that steps one space orthogonally then slides like a Bishop.

Adernach-Grasshopper. Leaps on Queen-lines to move or capture, and any piece leapt over changes color. By Ben Good.

Adjutant. A compound of Bishop and Dabbabah rider. Inventor: Mats Winther.

Advancer. Moves like a Queen, but captures by approach. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: David Howe.

Alfil.Jumps two diagonally. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Alibaba. Jumps two orthogonally or diagonally. Author: Fergus Duniho.

All the King's Men . Page describing variant chess pieces. Author: George Jelliss.

Amazon. Can move as queen or as knight. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Antelope. Makes (3,4)-jump. Author: Ben Good .

Archbishop. Moves as bishop or as knight. Author: Fergus Duniho and David Howe.

Archbishop. Moves as bishop but can make reflection at side of board. Author: Ben Good.

Archer. Moves as an Orthodox Queen without capturing. It captures by shooting. Inventor: Michael Nelson.

Assassin. It doesn't move but it uses rifle capture on adjacent pieces. It is dropped on any empty square where it puts the enemy King in check. Inventor: Antoine Fourriere.

B

Barc. Jumps as knight but only `narrow backwards' or `wide forwards'. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: Ralph Betza.

Bede. A piece which has the combined movement of the bishop and the dabbabah. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: Ralph Betza.

Berolina Pawn. Pawn variant that takes straight and moves diagonally forward. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: E. Nebermann.

Berolina Plus Pawn. Improved Berlonia Pawn that can also capture to the side. Author: Sergey Sirotkin.

Bishop. Moves arbitrary number of unobstructed squares diagonally. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Bishop, Reflecting. Moves as a Bishop, but can also reflect off of multiple sides of the board. Author: Peter Aronson.

Bishopper. Moves along diagonal line to first square after jumped over piece. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Bison. Makes (1-3)-jump or (2-3)-jump. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Bottom Heart. Slides roughly in the form of a heart and can do so in any of four directions. Can go to same directions as alfil, ferz, dababa or camel but has to slide to get from one square to the next. Inventor: Jeremy Gabriel Good.

Bowman. Moves as knight, and takes a piece that is an additional knightsmove in same direction away. Author: Ben Good.

Boyscout. Moves in a diagonal zigzagline. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: J. de A. Almay.

Buffalo. Triple compound leaper. (Cells: 64) Author: Charles Gilman. Inventor: Frank Maus.

C

Caliph. Compound of Bishop and Camel. Author: Charles Gilman. Inventor: Mark Hedden and Charles Gilman.

Camel. Makes (1,3)-jump. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Cannon. Moves like rook, but must jump when taking. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Canvasser. Compound of Rook and Camel. By Charles Gilman.

Cardinal. Moves as bishop or as knight. Author: Fergus Duniho and David Howe.

Carpenter. Compound of Knight and Dabbaba. Author: Charles Gilman.

Catapult. Moves like rook, but cannot make a capture. It is used to launch pieces to other areas of the board. Inventor: Gary K. Gifford.

Cavalier. Piece from RennChess that steps one diagonally then slides orthogonally, or steps one orthogonally then slides diagonally. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: Eric Greenwood.

Centaur. Moves as Knight or Man. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Chameleon (1). Take a piece in the way that piece is taking. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: Robert Abbott.

Chameleon (2). Change movement abilities after every movement. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Champion. Moves one orthogonally or jumps two orthogonally or diagonally. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: Daniel Macdonald.

Chancellor. Moves like rook or as knight. Author: Fergus Duniho and David Howe.

Charging Knight. Moves like a Knight for its four forward moves, or moves like a king sideways and backwards. Inventor: Ralph Betza.

Charging Rook. Moves like a Rook forward and sideways, or moves like a King backwards. Inventor: Ralph Betza.

Chariot. See Rook. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Circe-Grasshopper. Leaps on Queen-lines to move or capture, and any piece leapt over returns to its starting square. By Ben Good.

Colonel. Moves like a Rook forwards or sideways, or a Knight in a knight's four foward moves, or a king. Inventor: Ralph Betza.

Commoner. Moves like a Ferz or Wazir -- a nonroyal King (also called the Man). Written by Sergey Sirotkin (edited by Peter Aronson) and Fergus Duniho.

Contragrasshopper. Moves as queen but must always jump first. Author: Ben Good.

Coordinator. Takes in `coordination' with king. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: Robert Abbott.

Crab. Jumps as knight but only `narrow forwards' or `wide backwards'. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: Ralph Betza.

Crooked Bishop. Moves in a diagonal zigzagline. Also known as Boyscout. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: J. de A. Almay.

Crooked Queen. Moves in a diagonal zigzagline or like a Rook. By Ralph Betza.

Crooked Rook. A Rook that must make a 90 degree turn with every step, and must always keep moving away from its starting square. Inventor: Ralph Betza.

Crowned Knight. Moves as Knight or Man. Also known as Centaur. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Crowned Rook. Moves as Rook or Ferz. Also known as Dragon King. Author: Fergus Duniho.

D

Dabbabah. Jumps two orthogonally. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Dragon. Combines pawn and knight movement, mainly as a problem piece, not found in variants. Author: Ben Good.

Dragon. (DragonChess) Combines King and bishop movements, and capturing from afar (between boards). Author: Peter Spicer. Inventor: Gary Gygax.

Dragon Horse. Moves as Bishop or Wazir. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Dragon King. Moves as Rook or Ferz. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Duke. Piece from RennChess that steps one orthogonally then slides diagonally, or slides diagonally then steps one orthogonally. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: Eric Greenwood.

E

Edgehog. Moves as a Queen, but only to or from an edge. Author: Peter Aronson. Inventor: John Driver.

Einstein-Grasshopper. Leaps on Queen-lines to move or capture, and any piece leapt over changes type. By Ben Good.

Elephant. Jumps two diagonally (see Alfil). Author: Fergus Duniho.

Elephant (Xiangqi). Moves two squares diagonally (non-jumping). Author: Fergus Duniho and David Howe.

Empress. Fairy Chess name for Rook+Knight compound. Author: Fergus Duniho and David Howe.

Empress. See Amazon. Can move as queen or as knight. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Equihopper. Jumps across a piece in any direction with the same distance before and after the hurdle. Cannot jump additional pieces on straight. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: G. Leathem.

F

FAD. A piece which has the has the combined movements of the Ferz, Alfil and the Dabbabah. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: Ralph Betza.

Ferz. Moves one diagonally. Author: Fergus Duniho and Hans L. Bodlaender.

Fibnif. Moves one diagonally or makes a forwards or backwards knight jump. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: Ralph Betza.

Flamingo. (1,6)-jumper. Author: Ben Good.

Fox. Doubly-bent rider, inspired by the Gryphon and Aanca. By Tim Stiles.

Friend. Moves as any friendly piece that guards it. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: David L. Brown.

G

General (Xiang Qi). Moves like Wazir, but with royal restrictions. Author: Charles Gilman.

Giraffe. Makes (1,4)-jump. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Gnu. Makes (1-2)-jump or (1-3)-jump. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Gold General. Shogi piece that moves one square but not diagonally backwards. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Grasshopper. Moves along queenlines to first square after jumped over piece. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: T. R. Dawson.

Griffon. Historic piece that steps one space diagonally then slides like a Rook. Author: Ben Good.

H

Half-Duck. Moves like a Dabbabah, or like a Ferz, or can move three squares Rookwise (jumping over obstacles). Inventor: Ralph Betza.

Hippogriff. Limited version of the Griffon that must slide at least three squares. Author: Ben Good.

Honorable Horse. Moves forward as a Knight. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Horse. See Knight. Makes a (1,2)-jump. Author: Fergus Duniho and Hans L. Bodlaender.

I

Immobilizer. Pieces standing near an immobilizer may not move. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: Robert Abbott.

J

Jeweled General. Shogi King. Royal piece moving one in arbitrary direction. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender and Fergus Duniho.

Joker. Moves like last piece moved by the opponent. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: T. R. Dawson.

K

Kangaroo. Moves on Queen lines to first square after second jumped over piece. Author: Peter Aronson. Inventor: J. de A. Almay.

Kangaroo (Newton). Compound of Knight and Alfil. Author: Charles Gilman. Inventor: Timothy R. Newton.

King. Royal piece moving one in arbitrary direction. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender and Fergus Duniho.

King Battler. King usually moves as a queen. Written by Modest Solans; some comments by Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: Modest Solans.

Knight. Makes a (1,2)-jump. Author: Fergus Duniho and Hans L. Bodlaender.

L

Lance. Moves one or more squares straight forward. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Leo. Moves on queen lines, but must jump once when taking. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: Dr. P. Seyfert.

Lion. Powerful piece from Shogi variant. Author: Ben Good.

Lion (2). Moves on queen-lines but must jump exactly one piece. Appears in fairy chess problems. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Lion (Murray). Jumps two orthogonally or diagonally or captures on neighboring square. Written by John William Brown and Hans L. Bodlaender.

Locust. Jumps over opposing pieces on Queen lines to capture. Author: Peter Aronson.

Long Leaper. Moves as queen, but takes by leaping. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: Robert Abbott.

M

Maharaja. See Amazon. Can move as queen or as knight. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Man. Moves like a Ferz or Wazir -- a nonroyal King. Written by Sergey Sirotkin (edited by Peter Aronson) and Fergus Duniho.

Mao. Moves as knight but cannot jump. Author: Fergus Duniho and Ben Good.

Mao-hopper. Moves as knight must jump over occupied orthogonal square at first movement. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Marshall. Moves like rook or as knight. Author: Fergus Duniho and David Howe.

Mimics. Several pieces that can imitate the movement of other pieces. Author: David Howe.

Moa. Moves like knight but cannot jump first diagonal square. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Murray Lion. Jumps two orthogonally or diagonally or captures on neighboring square. Written by John William Brown and Hans L. Bodlaender.

Mushroom. Jumping piece whose destination squares form a mushroom pattern. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: Ralph Betza.

N

Nightrider. Can make one knightjump, or more knightjumps in the same direction. Author: Fergus Duniho and Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: T.R. Dawson.

Non-stop Equihopper. Jumps across a piece in any direction with the same distance before and after the hurdle. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: G. Leathem.

O

Orphan. Moves like a piece that attacks it. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: David L. Brown.

P

Paladin. Moves as Bishop or as Knight. Author: Fergus Duniho and David Howe.

Pancake. A piece that moves and captures like a non-royal King or a Nightrider-style cannon. By Ralph Betza.

Pao. Moves like rook, but must jump when taking. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Pawn. Moves straight forward, takes diagonally forwards, and can promote. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender and Fergus Duniho.

Pawn (Xiangqi). Moves and captures one square straight forward. Author: David Howe.

Pincer Pawn. Moves as rook, and takes by enclosing. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: Robert Abbott.

Princess. Moves as Bishop or as Knight. Author: Fergus Duniho and David Howe.

Pushme-Pullyu. Moves like a Queen, and captures by approach and withdrawal. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: Fergus Duniho.

Q

Queen. Moves across unobstructed orthogonal or diagonal line. Author: Fergus Duniho and Hans L. Bodlaender.

R

Rabbit. A doubly-bent rider, inspired by the Gryphon and Aanca. By Tim Stiles.

Raven. Can move as a Rook or a Nightrider. Written by Sergey Sirotkin (edited by Peter Aronson). Additional information from Ivan A. Derzhanski.

Reflecting Bishop. Moves as a Bishop, but can also reflect off of multiple sides of the board. Author: Peter Aronson.

Rhino. A set of pieces which combine the movements of the Mao with that of the Wazir. By Peter Aronson.

Rook. Moves across unobstructed orthogonal line. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Root-fifty leaper. Makes a (5,5)-jump or an (7,1)-jump. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Rose. Can make consecutive knightmoves in a circle. Author: Ben Good.

S

Scorpion (1). King with grasshopper power. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Scorpion (2). Standard pawn plus a non-capturing forward-wide knight leap. Inventor: Mats Winther.

Sergeant. A combination of the Berolina and usual Pawns. Written by Sergey Sirotkin (edited by Peter Aronson).

Short Rook. Moves like a Rook, but only up to 4 spaces. Inventor: Ralph Betza.

Silver General. Shogi piece that moves one square diagonally, or forward. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

Sissa. Move exists of moving a number of squares as rook and an equal number of squares as bishop. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: Carlos Cetina.

Soucie. Moves on queen-lines exactly as many squares as there are pieces on that line. By Ben Good.

Squirrel. Jumps two orthogonally, two diagonally, or like a knight. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender and Fergus Duniho. Inventor: Dr. Francesco Piacenza.

Sylph. Air nymph, that moves diagonally forwards (non capturing) or forwards or downwards for capturing. Author: Peter Spicer. Inventor: Gary Gygax.

T

Terror. See Amazon. Can move as queen or as knight. Author: Fergus Duniho.

Top Heart. It slides roughly in the form of a heart and can do so in any of four directions. Can go to same directions as alfil, ferz, dababa or camel but has to slide to get from one square to the next. Inventor: Jeremy G. Good.

U

Ubi-Ubi. Can make arbitrary many knightmoves in one turn. Author: Ben Good.

V

Vao. Moves like bishop but must jump when taking. Author: Fergus Duniho and Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: T. R. Dawson .

W

Waffle. A piece which has the combined movements of the Wazir and the Alfil. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: Ralph Betza.

Wazir. Moves one square orthogonally. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender and Alberto Monteiro.

Windmill. Moves around piece. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: Alexandre Muñiz.

Withdrawer. Takes by moving away. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: Robert Abbott.

Wizard. Moves one diagonally or makes (1,3)-jump. Author: Ben Good. Inventor: Dan MacDonald .

Wolf. A doubly-bent rider, inspired by the Gryphon and Aanca. By Tim Stiles.

Woody Rook. Moves like a Dabbabah, or a Wazir. Inventor: Ralph Betza.

Z

Zag-Zag. Piece moves vertically or along ne-sw diagonal. (8x8, Cells: 64) By Derek Nalls.

Zag-Zig. Piece moves vertically or along nw-se diagonal. (8x8, Cells: 64) By Derek Nalls.

Zebra. 2-3-jumper. Author: Ben Good.

Zebrarider. Makes a (2,3)-jump, or more (2,3)-jumps in the same direction. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender

Zelig. Assumes the movement capabilities of piece whose file it is in. Author: Peter Spicer. Inventor: Stan Druben.

Zig-Zag. Piece moves horizontally or along ne-sw diagonal. (8x8, Cells: 64) By Derek Nalls.

Zig-Zig. Piece moves horizontally or along nw-se diagonal. (8x8, Cells: 64) By Derek Nalls.

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The new pieces added are: aanca, adjutant, archer, assassin, bottom heart, catapult, charging knight, charging rook, colonel, crooked rook, half-duck, scorpion pawn, short rook, top heart and woody rook. I will be adding more gradually.

Of course, the inverted knight icons are pending of change for true ones.

Your contribution is welcomed.