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ZigZag Madness. Featuring the crooked dual path sliders: the ZigZag Bishop and the ZigZag Rook. (10x10, Cells: 100) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
Anonymous wrote on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 12:56 PM UTC:BelowAverage ★★
Argh. Neither are the introduced exotic pieces 'crooked' in the sense
used commonly here, nor are they particularly new. They aren't zig-zag
neither. 

Look at Renniassance Chess (yes, the spelling is intentional) on this
server for the Duke and the Cavallier and look up the 'Crooked Bishop'
in the piecoclopedia. 

--JKn

💡📝Charles Daniel wrote on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 02:56 PM UTC:
It IS a crooked slider and it is a zig zag motion as most people UNFAMILIAR with these pieces will understand it. 

e.g  One step orthogonal (zig) followed by two or more diagonally (zag) ..



Apparently you are just interested in semantics.

H. G. Muller wrote on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 04:25 PM UTC:
It seems your use of the word zigzag is at odds with the definition in the dictionary, quoted below. The latter clearly specifies the need for multiple angles in the trajectory, while your pieces have only one:

zig⋅zag 
noun, adjective, adverb, verb, -zagged, -zag⋅ging. 
–noun 
1. a line, course, or progression characterized by sharp turns first to one side and then to the other. 
2. one of a series of such turns, as in a line or path. 
–adjective 
3. proceeding or formed in a zigzag: zigzag stitches.  
–adverb 
4. with frequent sharp turns from side to side; in a zigzag manner: The child ran zigzag along the beach.  
–verb (used with object) 
5. to make (something) zigzag, as in form or course; move or maneuver (something) in a zigzag direction: They zigzagged their course to confuse the enemy.  
–verb (used without object) 
6. to proceed in a zigzag line or course.

Claudio Martins Jaguaribe wrote on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 04:30 PM UTC:Good ★★★★
Again!!

I liked it!

But, looks to me that is a template, as the snake. A template that can be applied to the various atoms and generals.

1 step in the divergent direction followed by 2 in the main direction, or the reverse, it can be applied to the man, the generals (again), and the Z family.

Hugs!

Larry Smith wrote on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 07:20 PM UTC:
The ZigZag Bishop and Zigzag Rook both fulfil the definition of zigzag.

'1. a line, course, or progression characterized by sharp turns first to one side and then to the other.'

The ZigZag Bishop can begin with a diagonal move then change to an orthogonal move. Or start with an orthogonal then change to a diagonal.

The ZigZag Rook can begin with an orthogonal move then change to a diagonal move. Or start with a diagonal then change to an orthogonal.

Even if they only perform two direction shifts, this follows the concept of zig and zag. The word zigzag comes from the French which is often used to describe 'forked' events such as lightning. Which is actually a splitting of the path. Which both of these pieces do.

So this argument about semantics is pointless.

But I can see how someone who has previously proposed a zigzag piece might feel a bit put upon. But are these piece exact replicas? I do not believe so. Just think of them as a homage and continuation of the concept.

H. G. Muller wrote on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 08:10 PM UTC:
Going from one direction to another is only a single 'turn'. One could even argue if this turn would qualify as 'sharp', (which seems hardly fitting for a 135-degree angle), but that seems nitpicking. Nevertheless, the dictionary definition requires a first and a second turn.

The archetypal lightning bolt has at least two sharp turns in it. With only one turn, no one would recognize it as a lightning bolt; people would see it as a letter V or an arrow head.

It seems you are pretty much trying to argue that 1 equals 2 here...

Larry Smith wrote on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 08:34 PM UTC:
I stand upon a point from which I can choose several directions to move. I choose one direction, this is the first or 'zig'. Then having taken that direction, I now choose another or 'zag'.

I think you are confusing the zigzag pattern(or repetitive series of zigzag steps) to the simple zigzag step.

Check out the second definition of the noun version of this word at this site:

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/zigzag

What about the concept of 'forked'? Which fulfils the French definition of zigzag.

Sharp has nothing to do with the degree of the angle but with abrupt shift involved. A non-sharp turn would actually become an arc, though it can be tight it may not be considered 'sharp'.

I love etymology. I can talk about it all day. ;-)

H. G. Muller wrote on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 10:57 PM UTC:
The way I read the second definition, 'one such turn', it means 'one of the set'. So there must be a zigzag motion consisting of at least two turns in opposite directions, and only then one can refer to one of those turns as a zigzag in the second sense. That is, IMO, what the 'such' means. It does not only refer to 'sharp' (otherwise meaning 2 could have said 'one shapr turn'), it does refer to the entire first definition.

Larry Smith wrote on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 11:14 PM UTC:
Okay, let's try a visual representation.

A zigzag pattern: /\/\/\/\/\/\

A zigzag step: /\

If you notice that this is a full step of those which make up the pattern.

But here's another zigzag pattern:

    /\
   /\/\
  /\/\/\
 /\/\/\/\

Of which /\ is a full step. Representing a nexus point of divergence.

Please try and comprehend that a zigzag is a turn or angle, just as a turn or angle can be a zigzag. Though zigzag has often been used to describe a continuing pattern of zigzagging, that is not its absolute definition.

In the South, they refer to a pattern which continued one angle past a simple zigzag step as a 'dog leg'. Interesting how they also incorporated two three-letter words which ended in 'g'. :-)

John Smith wrote on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 11:49 PM UTC:
I don't understand why they can't move to adjacent squares. Is this supposed to make them on par with their non-zigzag counterparts? Also, you got my hopes up of someone using Ralph's Zigzags, which are the same as crooked pieces, but move two steps after each turn instead of one.

Joe Joyce wrote on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 11:58 PM UTC:
Lol, I don't know if the first word in ZigZag Madness is strictly accurate, but the the title as a whole is, based on the comments here! :-D

Larry Smith wrote on Fri, Nov 21, 2008 12:02 AM UTC:
A little more etymology of zigzag.

It originates in the German as zickzack. Which is a compound of zickig and zack. Meaning awkward move.

This has been the most fun that I've had in days. Let's pick another word to examine. ;-)

John Smith wrote on Fri, Nov 21, 2008 12:12 AM UTC:
I'd like to see an (incorrectly or loosely) Ironic Chess. Anybody up?

💡📝Charles Daniel wrote on Fri, Nov 21, 2008 01:10 AM UTC:
Note that the minimum distance a ZigZag Bishop moves is a Zebra's move away: One orthogonal and TWO diagonally outwards. 

Think of it as a zig  then a zag followed by 1 or more spaces along the diagonal as a bishop. Or it slides 1 or more like a biship first and then zags 1 more in same direction and then zigs. 

ZigZag Rook's minimum distance is a camel's move away Two orthogonal and one diagonally outwards. 
So its 1 or more spaces as a Rook followed by a zig in same direction and then a zag. 
Or a Zag diagonally then a zig and then moves 1 space or more like a rook in same direction. 


So not only they cannot move to adjacent squares, they cannot move to squares a knight's move away. (This is unlike the duke and cavalier that can move a knight's move away.)

John Smith wrote on Fri, Nov 21, 2008 01:12 AM UTC:
As I said before: Is this supposed to make them on par with their non-zigzag counterparts?

💡📝Charles Daniel wrote on Fri, Nov 21, 2008 02:26 AM UTC:
Handicapping them close range does make them less powerful and more on par with the other pieces. However, there were other reasons: as I mentioned their minimum distance a camel or zebra move away, make their movement more  unique on this board. THe two new knights already have a  Ferz or  wazir in addition to  knight movement. The Zigzag Bishop/Rook are thus more susceptible to the knights and pawns. 

The piece values from the Zillions file (which will be up soon):

Wazir Knight - 13860 
Ferz Knight - 13287 
ZigZag Biship - 13914 to 11590
Zigzag Rook - 22078  to 17733
Rook - 17292 
Bishop 11613
pawn - 3620 
Ninja Pawn - 5915

Anonymous wrote on Fri, Nov 21, 2008 09:11 AM UTC:
What terminology is concerned: Your pieces are called bent riders (there is
a very good essay on Bent Riders by Ralph Betza on this server). Crooked or
zigzag describes the moves of boyscout and girlscout respectively (with
many turn instead of exactly one turn). 

I refrain from throwing in another rating but I see more problems with 
ZigZag Madness: The opening array is counterintuitive and hard to memorize
(which augmented knight is on which flank? And which of the twopath bent
riders goes to either flank?) and it suffers from an unprotected pawn.

So my advice is: Read what is already here (especially the essays of Ralph
Betza) and quote the sources of your inspiration, giving credit whom credit
is due.

--JKn

Anonymous wrote on Fri, Nov 21, 2008 10:31 AM UTC:
Larry Smith:
| In the South, they refer to a pattern which continued one angle
| past a simple zigzag step as a 'dog leg'. Interesting how they
| also incorporated two three-letter words which ended in 'g'. :-)

Well, so call them 'dog-leg pieces', and you would hear no objection
from me. :-)

Which 'South' are you talking about?

Zigzag is actually a Dutch word. It is related to 'zaag', (Dutch for
'saw'), and describes the saw-tooth shape of its cutting edge. The
English equivalent would be 'jigsaw'.

Larry Smith wrote on Fri, Nov 21, 2008 12:03 PM UTC:
Dutch is actually a Franco derivation of German, and didn't appear until four or five hundred A.D. German is a little bit older.

And jigsaw has a whole other etymology.

''vertical reciprocating saw,' 1873, Amer.Eng., from jig with its notion of 'rapid up-and-down motion.' Jigsaw puzzle first recorded 1909; originally one with pieces cut by a jigsaw.'

Although 'jig' is of Irish and Scottish origin, it might originate in the French 'gigue' or dance(in a sense, 'to shake a leg'). 

And 'saw' comes from the German 'Säge'. So they had a term for a repetitive 'zickzack'. ;-)

And everyone knows 'The South'. At least those from the United States. But I've found that even people outside the country know the reference.

💡📝Charles Daniel wrote on Fri, Nov 21, 2008 04:29 PM UTC:
To anonymous poster: I don't care too much for jargon and neither should anyone who is interested in playing this chess variant. If you had really wanted to contribute terminology, you could have just done it, I have no problem with that.  Instead you resort to attacking the variant while hiding as an anonymous poster. 
My chess variants are geared  more for the mainstream, which is why I try to avoid using jargon when simple words can do. Its a 2 path bent rider but only people in chess variants understand the term bent rider. 
2 path bent rider=crooked dual path slider. 
The word crooked is more readable for the general audience. 
The word Zig Zag is already proven to be corrrect in the sense, so this topic is now moot.

There is nothing counterintuitive about the array - the unprotected pawn is easily defended by the wazir knight in one move. 
If you look at the opening example you will also understand the starting positions of the ZigZag pieces 

Many chess variants have one or more unprotected pawns - why not criticize them as well?

Larry Smith wrote on Fri, Nov 21, 2008 06:28 PM UTC:
I am sorry that your submission had to be subjected to this stream of nonsense. I hope that I was not overly verbose in my attempt to correct the misconceptions voiced.

This is exactly the behavior that I detest. I would hope that members would show more constraint when reviewing a submission. Rather than responding with a 'knee-jerk' reaction, they should carefully analyze the submission before making a 'snap' judgment.

It always surprises me how many negative responses occur within 24 hours of a submission's posting. This obviously reflects little analysis on the part of the commenting member.

Maybe there should be a grace period before allowing the posting of comments to a new submission. Giving members time to carefully consider their eventual commentary. I would suggest seven days.

💡📝Charles Daniel wrote on Fri, Nov 21, 2008 06:43 PM UTC:
Larry, thanks for your comments, they were most helpful in dealing with the confusion. 

I think the problem is the poster's unshakable belief that only the Boyscout can be a zigzag bishop  (even though I and some others may not find the term 'Bishop' as referred to the boyscout intuitive) 

I don't think the comments need to be reviewed or delayed as long as they are not overly obscene. As the site gets more popular, the quality of comments may very well decrease as in YouTube, but this is the price to pay so that anyone can voice their opinion.

Claudio Martins Jaguaribe wrote on Sat, Nov 22, 2008 01:11 AM UTC:
Charles:

I'm really hurt!

After all you've engaged in endless debates about the name zigzag, even answered a anonymous poster, but, didn't got time to answer the only comment about the pieces...

What can I say?

I'm really hurt and speechless, after all, in all the comments, mine was the only one to look the pieces by theirs moves as they are. I've looked to the math, not name, not value, just the formula you used to develop it.

And, I've got no answer. Why?

Here, is a space where I avoid any kind of discussion or self glorification. But I'm human too! And see a anonymous poster got answer, where the ONLY GOOD rating you got was mine... Just take a look. The only one who got you a good rating you've ignored.

Think about it!

Hugs!

💡📝Charles Daniel wrote on Sat, Nov 22, 2008 02:58 AM UTC:
Hey Claudio, 

Thanks for the rating but I am afraid I do not follow you. 

Your previously mention:  'But, looks to me that is a template, as the snake. A template that can be applied to the various atoms and generals.'

I guess you are right, this template or formula can be applied to other types of pieces. Of course I used this idea in Asylum Redux and Octopus Chess as well. 

I did not realize you were asking me a question. Would you care to elaborate on this a bit more?

Anonymous wrote on Tue, Nov 25, 2008 12:12 PM UTC:
Fine, now here are some clarifications included, at least. Out of the
proposals in the discussion, I immediately love the terms 'dog leg
bishop' and 'dog leg rook': Nice unique names for the pieces. Maybe
'dog leg cavalier' and 'dog leg duke' are even better because of their
relation to RennChess.

What unprotected pawns is concerned: This one of the major points in the
discussion of Capablanca chess (invented by a chess world champion, but
never
caught on).

--JKn 

P.S. Die Diskussion über die Etymologie von 'Zickzack' im Deutschen ist
lustig. Ein Knick macht nur einen Zacken (/\), für ein Zickzack braucht
es viele Knicke (/\/\/\/\/\).

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