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Pandemonium (Surajang修羅場). Capablanca chess + Crazyhouse.[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Kevin Pacey wrote on Sat, Dec 12, 2020 04:53 AM UTC:

This game has almost the initial setup of 10x8 Embassy Chess (which itself borrows from the setup of 10x10 Grand Chess, both of which are, yes, arguably related to Capablanca Chess [whether its 10x10 or 10x8 versions], in different ways).

The game (8x8) Crazyhouse uses drops, but the present game (Pandemonium) adds Shogi-like elements when it comes to the addition of promotion rules for pieces (let alone the pawns). So, Pandemonium might be seen as a fusion of ideas from several games.

Long ago I toyed with the idea of having a Grand Chess-like game with the addition of dropping captured pieces at times (I didn't think of adding Shogi-like promotion rules as well). Eventually I submitted the game, but it was decided to be a Crazyhouse-like 'mutator' of the Grand Chess-like game I had submitted before. I also by then feared having 3 Q-strength pieces per side at the start (in a game with drops) might make for too much power, in that games might take little time in terms of number of moves, or else players would need to be very cautious. So, I recently deleted that mutator game of mine, along with several other games that were deemed to be similarly Crazyhouse/Bughouse-like mutators.

Pandemonium adds even more power, potentially, since pieces could promote (albeit only on the last rank). Having the armies seperated by 6 ranks could help slow the pace, though, since substantial contact between the two armies could well be delayed, if that's deemed desirable. Otherwise play-testing would be needed to see if my fears of there being too much power on board are justified.