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Half Chess (32). On a 4 by 8 board without pawns. (4x8, Cells: 32) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
pfix wrote on Wed, Jan 31, 2018 08:44 AM UTC:

There is also http://halfchess.com


Charles Gilman wrote on Sat, Oct 4, 2003 06:34 AM UTC:
The games that I describe below are now shown on separate pages, as Pawnless versions of Tunnelchess (3d variants) and Fivequatters (multi player variants).

Charles Gilman wrote on Sat, Jul 5, 2003 07:16 AM UTC:
Yet another use for the idea of not using Pawns would be in a 4x4x8
variant. The first rank could be RDDR QESQ QSEQ RDDR and the second GBBG
UNNU UNNU GBBG. B/N/Q/R are the pieces from 2d, U the Raumschach Unicorn,
G(Governor)=B+U, D(Duchess)=R+U, S(Empress)=Q+U, E(Emperor, checkmating
just one wins)=K+1 cell Triagonally. The concentration of power would
certainly help overcome the difficulty checkmating in 3d!
	Regarding my previous idea for 4 players using cards, on reflection a
simpler rule than '1=King's square colour' would be '1=King's side',
but symmetry means that it would make no difference to play.
	Note that I have already given this page two ratings of Excellent, and
three might be seen as swamping.

Charles Gilman wrote on Sun, May 25, 2003 06:48 AM UTC:
When I suggested 'A further rule that captured pieces get replaced...' I subconsciously assumed a jumping capture as in Draughts or Jumping Chess (under Large variants, but with Knights capturing as in my comment there). A much simpler way of bringing in Aces would be to allow promotion on reaching a different player's first rank from that last visited by the piece. The former would give a Shogi-like game, the latter something closer to standard Chess with an endgame of few pieces.

Charles Gilman wrote on Sun, May 11, 2003 09:34 AM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
Further to my last comment, this has given me an idea for a further development of Chess without pawns. This would involve a 4fx12r board with 1st rank MQKM, 2nd rank RCCR, 3rd rank NBBN, where M represents a Marshal (Rook+Knight) and C a Cardinal (Bishop+Knight). This would have the usual problems of Carrera et al regarding standard sets, but could easily be played with cards following a rule of powers of 2. 1=King's square colour, 2=Knight, 4=Diagonal, 8=Orthogonal. This could extend to four players (because of four suits) on what I term a 'Fivequarters' board - two 4x12 boards intersecting in the middle, total squares 80. While the Bishops 3 squares apart could be mutually protected by the 'one foot in the grave' rule about not passing through a corner of only three squares, those 4 squares apart would have to be separated by neutrals (represented by Jokers) at the corners of the intersection, which anyone could capture. A further rule that captured pieces get replaced by pieces of the captor's suit not already on the board could bring in Aces. These would naturally move as Queen+Knight - exactly as in Cardmate!

Charles Gilman wrote on Sun, May 4, 2003 09:21 AM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
Putting the Rooks at the back is a clever way of avoiding pieces starting en prise without Pawns. The effect of the narrow board on the Bishops is well exploited.

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