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GraTiA. A blend of two historic variants. (13x12, Cells: 156) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
George Duke wrote on Wed, Mar 16, 2011 05:58 PM UTC:Good ★★★★
Cvs#75 are going to take more time to properly cross-compare. Next Day 76 17.3.11 generates cv #76 and never commented, or looked at, GraTia may have significance more than usual in being the only 'Gilman' both six-lettered and starting with the same authorial 'G'. The pieces are all good or very good because immediately recognizable; and there are some neat newly-invented ones. From the Intro both Grande Acedrex and Tamerlane's are appealing and the object is to combine them. This may be about the first use of Panda and Bear, who are weaker Rook and Bishop respectively that nevertheless may traverse the board, or some boards all the way but one. Contrast Panda and Bear to Ramayana Buddha and Rakshasa who become also Rook and Bishop respectively strengthened as much as possible. The Mutator of the subvariant indicated at the end, Win by Marriage, has not received enough attention yet, this GraTia only its third or so implemention. (There are other less used win conditions, one example being Win by Arrival as Maxima's goal squares, called throne and palace in other cvs.) Generalization similar to the Gilman GraTia subvariant win condition could allow win by acquiring piece-types of a total to a certain amount or in a certain series for entire new family of cvs. The elementary Win by Marriage inspiration could lead to sequencing winning states after Rummy or Poker or even word-forming Scrabble or crosswords. Rather than the platitude ''Checkmate,'' say ''Rummy'' and determine for sure if the winning state appears and holds. Win conditions alone can number very high in the thousands, let alone the chosen piece-types and the cvs themselves, whilst there should be never the end to these productions. Inshallah.