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Locked. White has no legal move, in Problem Theme based on full-complement
initial positions, Kings back-ranked. As each of certain elementary
particles has anti-particle, so every game its anti-game.
8 ____ ____ ____M____K____ ____ ____ w, wazir
7 P____P____P____P____P____P____P____P G, TR Dawson's Grasshopper:
6 ____ ____ ____ ____ ____E____D____ follows queen-lines
5 S____S____ ____ ____B____ ____ ____G over to next square
4 p____n____n____ ____ ____ ____n____p S, Scorpion 4-square 4+way
3 p____ ____ ____n____n____ ____ ____p D, Dragon 5-square 5+way
2 p____ ____ ____ ____w____ ____ ____p M, Flamingo (2,7) leaper
1 p____ ____ ____k____ ____n____ ____p E, Elbow R; B, Elbow Bishop
a b c d e f g h
If p-a4 captures, Scorpion a-5 scores(illegally).
If Knight-b4 or Knight-c4 moves, Scorpion-b5 has pathway.
If Wazir-e2 moves or Knight-e3 moves or Knight-d3 moves,
Dragon-g6 has (one)pathway.
If Knight-g4 moves, Grasshopper-h5 can take King, illegal.
If Knight-f1 moves, Elbow Rook has pathway.
King cannot move because of Elbow Bishop and Flamingo.
Gridlocked. Berolina-Pawn array in which there are no opening moves for
White, literally. (Problem Theme requiring 50% piece density and forces
initial-positioned own board-half, Kings back-ranked) (4)
8 ____P____ ____P____ ____K____ ____ M = Flamingo(2,7)leaper
7 P____M____P____O____T____P____P____P T = Dabbabah-Rider
6 ____D____B____ ____P____ ____E____ D = Dragon 5-sq. multipath
5 ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____R B = Elbow Bishop; E =ElbRook
4 n____p____ ____p____n____p____ ____c O = Cannon
3 p____ ____n____p____ ____ ____ ____ R = Crooked Rook (Betza)
2 w____p____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____a a = Alfil(3,3)leaper
1 p____a____ ____k____ ____ ____p____ P,p = Berolina Pawn
a b c d e f g h
If either Camel-h4 or Pawn-f4 moves, Crooked Rook has a path.
If Berolina Pawn g1 moves, Elbow Rook has path.
If N-e4 or N-a4 moves, Elbow Bishop has pathway(different ones).
If Pawn-b4 or Knight-c3 moves, Dragon has pathway,(1+(2or4)) in this case).
If Pawn d3 or d4 moves, Cannon would check, illegal.
King cannot move because of Flamingo, Dabbabah-Rider and Elbow Rook.
[Next up 10x10]
No legal moves whatsoever 8x10 initial position. White cannot move 10 Pawns, 2 Queens, 2 Archbishops(a), Dabbabah(h), 2 Knights, B, R or King.(5)
8 P___ ___P___ ___K___ ___ ___P___ ___ q = Queen; standard Pawns
7 ___P___U___P___P___P___P___S___P___P F = Fox, doubly bent rider
6 D___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___W___ ___B___ W = Wolf, doubly bent rider
5 F___ ___ ___ ___C___ ___E___ ___ ___I U = Quintessence (Knappen)
4 n___ ___ ___q___a___b___ ___n___p___q D = Dragon, 5-square multipath
3 p___ ___p___r___a___ ___ ___p___p___p E = Elbow Rook; C = Cannon
2 p___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___p___ ___p I = Immobilizer
1 p___ ___ ___ ___k___h___ ___ ___ ___ S = Sissa: sequenced so many
as B, as many as R; or v.v.
a b c d e f g h i j
If Knight-a4 moves, Fox has a path o-d-d-d-o. [o = orthogonal]
If Pawn-c3 or Rook-d3 moves, Dragon has pathway(s), one or two.
If Queen-d4 moves, Quintessence, special Nightrider, has path to King.
If either Cardinal-e3 or -e4 moves, Cannon attacks King, illegal.
If Bishop f4 moves, Wolf has path d-o-o-o-d.
If Knight-h4 moves, Sissa has path to King.
If Dabbabah-f1 moves, Elbow Rook has pathway.
King cannot move because of Bishop and same Elbow Rook.
Starting set-up with White's 3 Queens, 2 Marshalls(RN), 2 Cardinals(BN),
and 2 Alibabas' all having no legal move:
8 R___P___P___ ___M___K___P___P___ ___ M = Flamingo(2,7)leaper
7 P___S___W___P___P___P___L___N___P___P S = Sissa, so many B as many R,
6 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ or vice versa
5 C___U___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___G W = Wolf, doubly bent rider
4 ___m___ ___ ___ ___p___ ___q___ ___p L = Camelrider; b = Alibaba
3 ___p___m___a___ ___q___ ___p___ ___p N = Nightrider
2 ___p___q___ ___a___ ___ ___p___ ___p C = Canon
1 ___p___ ___b___k___b___ ___p___ ___ U = Quintessence(Knappen)
G = Diagonal Narrow Crooked
a b c d e f g h i j Nightrider(Knappen)
If either Marshall-b4 or -c3 moves, Canon threatens King, illegal.
If Queen-c2 moves, Quintessence has path(specialized Nightrider).
If Cardinal-d3 moves, Wolf has path.
If Cardinal-e2 moves, Sissa has pathway.
If Queen-f3 moves, Nightrider at h7 has path.
If Queen-h4 moves, Diagonal Narrow Crooked Nightrider at j5 has pathway.
If Pawn-f4 moves, Camelrider has path.
King cannot move because of Flamingo. (6)
This time Ranks 4 and 5 have only one Pawn each. Yet White's every move is
frozen illegal-- notwithstanding 3 Queens, 2 Archbishops(BN) and Marshall.(7)
8 ___ ___P___K___P___P___P___O___P___ W = Wolf, doubly bent rider
7 P___P___S___P___R___E___ ___P___D___D S = Sissa: so many as Bishop,
6 W___ ___C___ ___ ___ ___ ___O___ ___ as many as Rook; and v.v.
5 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___P R = Reflecting Bishop
4 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___p E = Elbow Rook
3 p___a___a___q___p___b___m___ ___ ___p O - Canon; C = Cannon
2 p___ ___p___q___q___ ___p___ ___i___p D = Diagonal Narrow Crooked
1 p___n___k___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___p Nightrider(Knappen)
i = Ibis(2,9)leaper
a b c d e f g h i j
If Pawn at a3 moves, Reflecting Bishop has path.
If Archbishop at b3 moves, Wolf has path.
If Archbishop-c3 moves, Cannon threatens King, illegal.
If either Queen-d3 or -e2 moves, D.N.C. Nightrider at i7 has pathway.
If either Queen-d2 or Pawn-e3 moves, Canon-h6 has path to King.
If Bishop at f3 moves, Elbow Rook has path.
If Marshall-g3 moves, Sissa-c2 has path.
King cannot move because of Canon-h8 and D.N.C. Nightrider at j7.New pieces in the argument are Rose(Betza), Ship(BachDangChess) and
Priest(Fantasy Grand Chess). No White piece or pawn can move; try it.
8 ___ ___P___K___N ___ ___S___ ___ ___
7 ___P___W___P___C___ ___P___P___P___O Ship = 5 diagonal,then 3-o,
6 P___ ___R___ ___ ___ ___R___T___E___ then 2-o; o=orthogonal
5 P___ ___ ___ ___P___ ___ ___ ___ ___P W = Wolf, doubly bent rider
4 p___m___ ___ ___a___ ___ ___ ___ ___p C = Cannon; O = Canon
3 w___n___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___p R = Rose, Betza-type nightrider
2 p___p___ ___a___ ___m___q___ ___ ___p T = Priest, any continual 90-
1 p___p___f___p___k___a___ ___ ___ ___p degree diagonal one-step path
m = Marshall; a = Cardinal
a b c d e f g h i j w = wazir; f = ferz
If Knight at b3 moves, Ship has path.
If Marshall at b4 moves,Rose-c6 has path.
If Cardinal-d2 moves, Wolf has path.
If Cardinal-e4 moves, Cannon reaches King.
If Cardinal-f1 moves, Elbow Rook has path.
If Marshall-f2 moves, Priest moves h6-g5-h4-g3-f4-e3-f2-e1.
If Queen moves, Rose-g6 has path.
King cannot move because of canon-j7. (8)New piece in the argument is Ralph Betza's Rhino. 'P,p' are Berolina
Pawns--setting the stage for the next board immobilizing Black too.
8 ___E___P___ ___K___P___ ___T___P___P E = Elbow Bishop; l = alfil
7 P___P___ ___C___W___H___ ___O___ ___P S = Scorpion,5-sq. multipath
6 S___ ___C___ ___P___ ___ ___ ___ ___ O = Canon; C = Cannon
5 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___P___P___ ___U W = Wolf, double bent rider
4 a___p___a___b___p___ ___q___ ___p___ H = Rhino, Betza's directioned
3 p___ ___a___ ___m___ ___ ___p___ ___p one-stepper o-d-o... knightlike
2 n___p___ ___ ___l___ ___ ___ ___p___ T = Priest, continual 90-degree-
1 p___ ___k___ ___ ___ ___n___ ___ ___p change one-stepped pathways
a b c d e f g h i j U = Quintessence(Knappen)Nrider
If Archbishop-a4 or Berolina Pawn-b4 moves, Scorpion has a pathway.
If either Archbishop-c4 or -c3 moves, Cannon-c6 reaches King.
If Bishop at d4 moves, Wolf has path.
If Berolina Pawn-e4 moves, Rhino has path.
If Marshall-e3 moves, Elbow Bishop has path.
If Queen at g4 moves, Quintessence at j5 has path.
If Knight at g1 moves, Priest has pathway h8-g7-h6-i7-j6-i5-j4-i3-j2-
i1-h2-g1-f2-e1-d2-c1.
King cannot move because of Cannon at d7 and Canon at h7. (9)New pieces in argument are Straight Wide Crooked Nightrider(Knappen's
Nachtmahr) and Beau Monde Countess from year 2000.(10)
8 ___ ___ ___P___K___ ___ ___P___P___ G = Flamingo,(2,7)leaper
7 C___P___P___G___P___N___P___U___W___F C = Countess, in turn moves
6 ___E___D___ ___ ___ ___B___ ___ ___ R then shoots as B; vv
5 P___ ___P___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___P N = S.W.C. Nightrider
4 p___ ___ ___e___p___ ___r___ ___p___p Wolf,Fox: doubly bent riders
3 p___ ___ ___m___ ___w___m___ ___ ___p E = Elbow Rook; B = Elb. Bishop
2 p___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___l___p Dragon = 5-square multipath
1 p___a___ ___ ___ ___k___ ___l___w___p U = Quintessence(Nachtmahr)
q,queen; a,cardl.; m,marshall
a b c d e f g h i j l, alfil; w, wazir; e, camel
If Marshall-d3 moves, Countess moves a7-a6 and has path to shoot.
If Camel-d4 or Pawn-e4 moves, Dragon has (2) pathways.
If Cardinal-b1 moves, Elbow Rook has path.
If Wazir-f3 moves, S.W.Crooked Nightrider at f7 has path.
If Marshall-g3 moves, Fox at j7 has path.
If Rook at g4 moves, Quintessence at h7 has path.
If Pawn-i4 moves, Elbow Bishop at g6 has path.
King cannot move because of Flamingo at d7, Elbow Rook and Wolf at i7.This board achieves two long-travelling Priests(Fantasy Grand Chess, 2000) one from the very opposite corner. Berolina Pawns.(11) 8 T___P___ ___K___ ___N___ ___P___ ___P T = Priest, all-90-degree one- 7 ___ ___P___ ___P___ ___P___ ___N___ step diagonal pathways 6 ___P___ ___P___ ___ ___ ___R___ ___ I = Nightrider; N = Crooked NR 5 P___I___P___T___ ___F___ ___S___O___ F = Fox, doubly bent rider 4 ___d___ ___q___ ___n___q___ ___ ___p R = Rose(Betza Nightrider) 3 p___ ___p___m___p___ ___ ___p___q___n d = Dragon, 5-square multipath 2 ___p___ ___p___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___p S = Sissa, so many as B(R)as 1 p___w___p___ ___ ___ ___a___ ___ ___k many as R(B) a b c d e f g h i j m, marshall; a, alfil; w, wazir If Queen-d4 moves, Nightrider-b5 has path. If Marshall-d3 moves Priest has pathway d5-c4-d3-c2-d1-e2-f1-g2-h1-i2-j1. If Knight-f4 moves, Fox-f5 has path. If Queen-g4 moves, Rose-h6 has path. If Pawn-h3 moves, Sissa has path. If Queen-i3 moves, Crooked Nightrider has path. If Knight-j3 moves, Priest-a1 has pathway a8-b7-c8-d7-e8-f7-g8-h7-i8-j7-i6-j5-i4-j3-i2-j1. King cannot move because of Cannon at i5.
Make no mistake. Each 'solution' is a new CV game, because no piece-mix duplicates, let alone the specific array. These are 'directed initial positions', having strict stipulations. Viz., the requirement, from the outset, is White's having no legal move, not even a Pawn, from an otherwise legal position, subject to: (1) 50% piece density (2) Equal numbers both sides in own board-half (3)Half of them Pawns (4) Kings back-ranked (5) CVPage pieces. Not so strict stipulation would be (6)No overuse of Immobilizer(Ultima piece), more than one being inelegant.
First use here of Reflecting Bishop off two edges; ortho-Pawns. Unique is Camel-c1's opening it up for either Sissa or Elbow Rook, or both. 8 ___P___ ___ ___K___P___ ___P___ ___P B = Reflecting Bishop 7 ___ ___P___B___P___Z___P___ ___P___ E = Elbow R; H = Rhino(Betza) 6 ___E___ ___P___ ___S___ ___ ___ ___O S = Sissa, so m.R,as m.B;vv 5 P___ ___ ___H___ ___C___ ___I___ ___O C = Cannon; O = Canon 4 p___ ___p___ ___ ___a___m___n___ ___p Z = Rose; I = Scorpion, 5-sq.m. 3 p___ ___ ___ ___r___a___ ___r___ ___p d = Bach Dang Ship, 5d-3o-2o 2 p___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___p___q___ ___p a = Cardinal 1 ___ ___m___ ___ ___k___p___p___ ___d m = Camel a b c d e f g h i j If Camel-c1 moves, either Sissa-f6 or Elbow Rook-b6 has path, or both. If either Cardinal-f3 or -f4 moves, Cannon has pathway, illegal. If Camel-g4 or Knight-h4 moves, Scorpion-h5 has a pathway. If Rook-h3 or Pawn-g2 moves, Canon-j5 has pathway, illegal. If Queen-h2 moves, Rose-f7 has pathway. If Pawn-c4 moves, Reflecting B's pathway is d7-c8-b7-a6-b5-c4-d3-e2-f1. If Rook-e3 moves, Rhino has path d5-d4-e3-e2-f1. King cannot move because of Elbow Rook-b6 and Canon-j6.(12)
This board Bach Dang Ship(1999) appears four times and Black has two early potential moves by Ship's 5-diagonal, 3-orthogonal, 2-orthogonal step, in a position also precluding any White first move. 8 P___S___C___ ___K___S___ ___ ___P___ S = Ship 7 ___W___ ___C___ ___U___ ___P___O___D W = Wolf, doubly bent rider 6 ___P___ ___ ___P___P___ ___ ___ ___ D = Diagonal Narrow Crooked 5 P___E___ ___P___ ___ ___P___ ___ ___P Nightrider(Nachtmahr) 4 n___p___a___a___p___ ___q___ ___ ___p C = Cannon; C = Canon 3 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___n___ ___ ___p E = Elbow Bishop 2 ___l___ ___ ___s___ ___p___ ___l___p l = Alfil; z = wazir 1 ___p___ ___k___s___ ___p___ ___p___p a = Archbishop a b c d e f g h i j If Queen-g4 moves, D.N.C.N. has pathway. If Knight-g3 moves, Ship has pathway b8-c7-d6-e5-f4-g3-f3-e3-d3-d2-d1. If Pawn-b4 moves(captures), Ship moves f8-e7-d6-c5-b4-a3-b3-c3-d3-d3-d2-d1. If Pawn-e4 moves, Quintessence has pathway f7-d6-e4-c3-d1. If Knight-a4 moves, Elbow Bishop has path. If Archbishop-d4 moves, Cannon-d7 has path. If Archbishop-c4 moves, Wolf has pathway b7-c6-c5-c4-c3-c2-d1. King cannot move because of Cannon-c8 and Canon-i7.(13)
In a slightly irrelevant note, I notice that you have a few extensions of the Falcon named. Falcon 3-square multipath Scorpion 4-square multipath Dragon 5-square multipath Phoenix 6-square multipath I wonder what others you have named in this chain. The one I am wondering about is the 2-square multipath (which is, technically, a combination of the Mao and his opposite, the Moa.) Since I think you're relying on Egyptian Mythology for naming these pieces it would be fun if this piece is called the Cat. The name isn't much appropriate though.
Crossbishop and Venator(2006, Winther), having bifurcation modes, are new pieces in the argument. (Venator's two legs mandatory, Crossbishop's 'if and only if' capturing) 8 V___P___ ___ ___P___K___P___ ___S___ V = Venator, Rooklike then 7 ___ ___P___P___C___P___W___P___ ___ over one 45-degree to B 6 P___E___D___ ___ ___ ___U___ ___P___ S = Crossbishop, moves Rook, iff 5 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___F___E___ ___P capturing leaps one then 45-d 4 ___ ___n___p___a___b___p___ ___ ___p C = Cannon; E = Elbow Rook 3 ___ ___m___ ___a___ ___r___ ___ ___p W = Wolf F =Fox (2-turn riders) 2 l___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___Q___ ___l___p D = Dragon, 5-square multipath 1 p___ ___ ___p___k___p___ ___ ___p___p U =Quintessence; l = alfil a b c d e f g h i j a = cardinal; m = Marshall If Pawn-d1 moves or Pawn-f1, one of Elbow Rooks has path. If Marshall-c3 moves, Venator has path a8-a7-a5-b4-c3-d2-e1. If Knight-c4 or Pawn-d4 moves, Dragon has one or two pathways. If either Cardinal-e3 or -e4 moves, Cannon has path(illegal). If Bishop-f4 moves, Wolf has pathway g6-f5-f4-f3-f2-e1. If Rook-g3 moves, Crossbishop has pathway i8-i7-i5-h4-g3-f2-e1. If Pawn-g4 moves(captures), Fox has pathway g5-g4-f3-e2-e1. If Queen-g2 moves, Quintessence has pathway. King cannot move because of Elbow Rook-b6. (14)
Jetan's Thoat(1922) goes diagonal-orthogonal, or reverse, in any direction. A non-jumping Thoat is two-way to Knight squares and four-way to Wazir squares. We play Thoat non-jumping unlike usual interpretation. Even so, (Mao+Moa) is subset of that and has probably been named. I vote two-square two-way by one diagonal and one orthogonal outwardly, Phoebe, both goddess and bird, subtly weakened Knight for small boards. Falcon, Scorpion, Dragon, 6-square multipath being Phoenix. 7-square multipath is Roc. A centralized Roc unimpeded on large 15x15 board can reach 48 squares, whereas Queen unimpeded on 15x15 reaches maximum 56 different squares. Roc, Phoenix, Dragon, Scorpion, Falcon, Phoebe and Queen none of them can ever move to any same square from a given starting square. Each one moves to own particular blocks of squares.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gpjnow/VC-GM.htm#M
It's called the 'Moo' among problemists, funny name. Duniho calls it the Squire in Holywar.
For me, this piece would be my choice for the name 'Donkey'. M Winther beat me to the name though. However, I think the name Donkey fits this theme a little better than Winther's.
So .. hmm
Donkey (Dy): 2-square multipath
Falcon (F): 3-square multipath
Scorpion(S): 4-square multipath
Dragon (Dn): 5-square multipath
Phoenix(Px): 6-square multipath
Roc (Rc): 7-square multipath
Rook (R): orthogonal rider.
Bishop (B): diagonal rider, + noncapturing wazir (necessary for 17
files.)
Pawn (P): normal pawn. may move one step or all the way to the 8th
rank, promotion upon reaching the opp's pawn rank (as in
makruk) to any piece (queens and knights not included.)
King (K): normal king. no castling.
Queen (Q): royal queen. see below.
I almost now see a tantalizing variant on a 16x16 (or a 17x17), I might call Full Board. The first four ranks for white are :
4 P P P P P P P P (P) P P P P P P P P
3 - - - - - - - - (-) - - - - - - - -
2 R Rc Px Dn S F Dy B (K) B Dy F S Dn Px Rc R
1 - - - - - - - - (-) - - - - - - - -
The file in brackets doesn't exist in the 16x16 board. Needless to say, black's setup mirrors white's.
On the 16x16, it's played by Extinction chess rules. On the 17x17, the goal is to checkmate the king. Draws are by the usual methods, with the 50 move rule replaced by a 100 move rule. Stalemate is 0.75 points.
Other variant, on a 15x15 board :
3 P P P P P P P P P P P P P
2 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 Rc Px Dn S F Dy Q Dy F S Dn Px Rc
The goal is to checkmate the Queen. The rules for the Queen are identical to those in Caissa Brittania. Stalemate is 0.75 points.
Three variants :
'King Full Board (17 sq.)', 'Extinction Full Board (16 sq.)' and 'Queen Full Board (15 sq.)'. My preference is the last.Argument adds Buccaneer(C) and Murmillo(I,i)(Winther 2006), having bifurcation modes(no leaping). C moves as Rook, I as Bishop. If and only if capturing, either turns once 45d. to (B,R) by 'bouncing' off a piece adjacent 180 degrees 'behind' new direction. (More 'boost' than bounce) 8 P___U___P___C___K___G___ ___ ___ ___ U = Quintessence(Knappen) 7 P___ ___I___ ___P___ ___P___P___P___P I,i = Murmillo, moves Bishop 6 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___E___F___O 45d. iff to bounce-capture 5 D___F___ ___ ___ ___P___ ___ ___ ___P C = Buccaneer, moves Rook, 4 i___ ___q___ ___q___ ___ ___ ___ ___p 45d. iff to bounce-capture 3 p___f___ ___n___m___b___p___ ___ ___p F = Fox, d.b.rider; E =ElbowRk 2 p___ ___l___ ___ ___ ___p___ ___ ___p G = Flamingo,(2,7)leaper 1 ___ ___p___ ___p___k___l___ ___ ___p D = Diagonal Narrow Crooked NN a b c d e f g h i j O = Canon; m = Marsh.; l=Alfil If Queen-c4 moves, D.N.C.Nightrider has pathway a5-c4-d2-f1. If Marshall-e3 moves, Fox has pathway b5-b6-c5-d4-e3-f2-f1. If Knight-d3 moves, Buccr. has pathway d8-d7-d6-d5-d4-d3(pc.-c4)-e2-f1. If Pawn-e1 moves, Fox moves b5-b4-c3-d2-d1-f1. If Queen-e4 moves, Quintessence moves b8-d7-c5-e4-d2-f1. If Bishop-f3 moves, Murmillo moves c7-d6-e5-f4(piece-f5)-f3-f2-f1. If Pawn-g3 moves, Fox-i6 has path. If Alfil-g1 moves, Elbow R. paths. King cannot move because of Canon and Flamingo. (15)
Abdul, any of them are okay presets you care to make year 2007 per our talks. Abdul-Rahman Sibahi's 15x15 board gives required 7-square multipath Roc two successive moves same direction. 15x15 also happens to be exactly Scrabble(TM) size(225 squares)2,3,or 4 player. Are Scrabble(TM)USP2752158 variations played? (1) Each turn's up to 7 tiles played has second leg, dropping a (blocking) chess Knight, or Bishop, Rook, Immobilizer. (2) Scrabble(TM) could use, in addition to 'double' and 'triples', one quadruple word square or up to nine quadruple letter squares. (3) English & French words, German, Spanish et al. (4) Use of Dictionary by sacrificing tile; 'Official Scrabble Dictionary' two tiles; three future tiles any language (5) Scrabble(TM) two-turn order, take-back, word-play by quadrant, diagonal words, reverse, shifting tiles (6) Scrabble(TM) board 15x16, 16x15, Gustavian 15x15(229 squares) (7) Move tiles as Pawns if legal words remain in any language. Shatranj, Berolina, Cannon. Those 7 alone make at least, in combinations, 5x10x10x5x20x20x10 = 10 million Scrabble(TM) variations. [See also Garwood's Scrabble Battle Chess]
Provoctor(V) and Dimachaer(I)(Winther 2006)add to arguments. First leg: (V)moves Bishop-like, (D) Rook-like. Mandatory bifurcation: Both must collide head on with any piece in path causing 45-degree change of direction. 8 U___ ___P___P___M___K___W___ ___P___ R = Rose(Betza NN); O = Canon 7 P___P___ ___P___R___ ___V___ ___I___O U = Quintessence(Knappen NN) 6 D___ ___P___ ___P___ ___ ___ ___ ___P V = Provoctor, moves Bishop 5 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___P___ ___O must collide, 45 degrees 4 ___p___p___ ___ ___a___ ___ ___ ___p I = Dimachaer, moves Rook 3 f___p___ ___p___ ___ ___ ___ ___p___w must collide, 45 degrees 2 w___p___q___ ___ ___ ___q___ ___p___f M = Flamingo,(2,7)leaper 1 p___f___ ___ ___k___ ___ ___ ___p___w W = Wolf, doubly bent rider a b c d e f g h i h D = 5-square multipath If Queen-c2 moves, Quintessence paths. w,wazir; f,ferz; l,alfil If Queen-g2 moves, Rose has path e7-g6-h4-g2-e1. a,cardinal If Pawn-b4 or -c4 moves, Dragon-a6 has one pathway. If Pawn-d3 moves, Provoctor moves g7-f6-e5(piece-d4)-e4-e3-e2-e1. If Pawn-i3 moves, Dimaecher has pathway i7-i6-i5-(piece-i4)-h4-g3-f2-e1. If Cardinal-f4 moves, Wolf has pathway g8-f7-f6-f5-f4-f3-f2-e1. King cannot move because of both Canons' and Flamingo's covering all.(16)
New pieces in argument are DoubleCannon(X) and DoubleBarrel(Z), having optional second leg. X moves as Rook, Z as Bishop. If and only if to capture, each turns 45 degrees, jumps one adjacent piece & moves on. 8 ___P___P___ ___P___K___ ___ ___P___P G = Diagonal Narrow Crked NN 7 G___ ___X___ ___Z___P___P___I___ ___ I = Crooked Nightrider(Betza) 6 ___T___ ___D___ ___ ___ ___P___R___O Z = (above)moves Bishop, iff 5 P___ ___ ___P___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___O to capture 45 degrees, jumps 4 p___ ___ ___ ___b___ ___ ___ ___ ___q X = (above)moves Rook, iff 3 p___ ___ ___p___ ___b___p___q___ ___p to capture 45 degrees, jumps 2 p___ ___ ___ ___q___ ___ ___p___ ___p T = Priest(F.Grand)90-degree 1 p___l___n___ ___ ___l___k___p___l___ continual diagonal one-step a b c d e f g h i j R = Rose(Betza); l = Alfil If Pawn-d3 moves, DoubleCannon(Winther 2006)c7-c6-c5(pc.d4)-e3-f2-g1. If Pawn-g3 moves, DoubleBarrel(Winther 2006)e7-f6-g5(pc.g4)-g3-g2-g1. If Queen-e2 moves, D.N.Crooked Nightrider(Knappen)moves a7-b5-d4-e2-g1. If Queen-h3 moves, Crooked NN moves h7-g5-h3-g1. If Queen-j4 moves, Rose moves i6-j4-i2-g1. If Knight-c1 moves, Priest moves b6-c5-b4-c3-b2-c1-d2-e1-f2-g1. If Bishop-f3 or -e4 moves, Dragon-d6(5-square multipath) has one(or two) pathway(s). King cannot move because of Canons-g5 and -g6. (17)
(PROBLEM THEMES THREE item) BLACK MATES IN ONE. DoubleCannon(X) [Winther]
and DoubleBarrel(Z) [Winther] have optional second leg. X moves as Rook, Z as Bishop. If and only if to capture, each turns 45 degrees and jumps one
adjacent piece and moves on in a capture.
8 X___P___P___ ___P___K___ ___ ___P___P FIND THE MATE IN ONE BY BLACK.
7 T___ ___X___ ___Z___P___P___I___ ___ G = Diag. Narrow Crooked NN
6 P___ ___ ___D___ ___ ___ ___P___R___ [Knappen]
5 ___G___ ___P___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___O I = Crooked NN [Betza]
4 p___ ___ ___ ___b___ ___ ___ ___ ___q R = Rose[Betza]
3 p___ ___ ___p___ ___b___p___q___ ___p T = Priest (Fantasy Grand),
2 p___ ___ ___ ___q___ ___ ___p___ ___p ninety-degree continual
1 p___l___n___ ___ ___l___k___p___l___ diagonal one-step
a b c d e f g h i j D = Dragon plural
O = Canon; l = Alfil
06cbab-97feda wvut4seir5ponm :noituloS'Priest a7-b6' is one solution. There is a second solution. That 'Priest a7-b6' is Check and Mate, because DoubleCannon then has the capturing route a8(-a7-(turn 45 degrees and jump)-c5-d4-e3-f2)-g1. To prove it, 'King g1-g2' runs into Canon. 'King -f2' has the same check by the same DoubleCannon. The only two White pieces that can reach DoubleCannon-a8's pathway, to block it, are Queen-e2 and Pawn-d3. 'Pawn d3-d4' blocks DoubleCannon, as that DoubleCannon would have to capture the Pawn along it. However, 'd3-d4' gives the other DoubleCannon *immediate* pathway c7(-c6-c5(turn 45 degrees and jump)-e3-f2)-g1, still Check. And 'Queen d3-d4' makes a pathway for Diagonal Narrow Crooked Nightrider at b5, NN b5(-d4-e2)-g1. So, that is clearly Checkmate, without DoubleCannon ever (permitted) capturing Queen. 'Priest a7-b6' is therefore one established Checkmate. Which of Rose, Crooked Nightrider, plural-path Dragon, DNCNN, Priest, DoubleBarrel, Canon or the other DoubleCannon enable by one different move a comparable Mate-in-One at once? What is the second solution?
BLACK TO MOVE and MATE IN ONE. There are four immediate solutions. Four ways to do it, so White can never move again. First, '1. Priest a7-b6! Checkmate' (as explained). Now Priest is key to the other solutions also. ''Continual diagonal ninety-degree one steps'' describes Priest's move. Therefore, the second obvious solution is '1. Rose-i6xj4, capturing Queen, Checkmate.' Third solution is '1. Rose-i6xf3, capturing Bishop, Checkmate.' Fourth solution is '1. Priest a7-d4' Checkmate.' Briefly, Priest has pathway 'a7(-b6-a5-b4-c5)-d4' and also can continue ' -c3-d2-e3-f2' the same move. So, King has no way out with 'g1-f2' upon either Check by the Rose. Stopping at '-d4', Priest gives DoubleCannon-c7 pathway and Checkmate too. In the board(Board 8) shown 5.July.2007, Priest move-example is 'h6-g5-h4-g3-f4-e3-f2-e1'. Two other long-range Priest moves(when unblocked) are shown in boards 9 and 11 this thread (July 2007). So, this 'unrestricted Priest' used throughout is a rider, long-range and colourbound. Priest is liberal version of Betza's Crooked Bishop. Like C.B., Priest cannot double back to any same square it has already passed over the same move, but Priest may additionally change direction twice in a row 90 degrees left or right. Betza's term 'Bent Rider' applies to Priest, multiply-bent rider requiring successive 90-degree one-steps per move(like Crooked Bishop). Gryphon 13th-century is early bent rider, with similar geometrical idea, under rubric of moving a step or more one direction and continuing different direction, without jumping.
Byline April First 2008. (1) American Psytheatric Association recognizes new disorder, 'Designer-game syndrome', characterized by compulsive repetition of imagined alternate Rules of Classic games (typically Chess). (2) Cicely, Alaska USA, develops hybrid of Xiangqi (90 spaces) and Western Chess (64 squares) having of course halfway 77 squares. Now centralized Bishop reaches 13 squares on 64, so the 13 new squares situate the four directions as extensions along and beyond the Bishop a1-h8 diagonal and b8-h2 diagonal respectively distances of 3,3,3, and 4, X-shape protrusions, for the total 77 squares. Now one Bishop, Queen, King and any Pawn potentially may eventually reach all the 77, Knight 70, and Rook 66. [Corrected two years later: one Bishop reaches 32 + the additional 13 for 45, and the other Bishop just her 32.] Hence the name from 'Rook 66' became 'Route-66', aka 'Root-77' contradictorily for the actual total number of squares. (3) University of Texas computer scientist improves 36-square Los Alamos Chess with 'move retraction', also called 'invoking duality'. Thrice per game a player may ''invoke duality'' and move any one piece or Pawn from its present or instead its last immediate location, as legitimate present move. Other player's pieces stay put. --What's News 1 April 2008.
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Dave's Silly Chess Game suggests a new group of chess problem themes, namely, initial positions' fulfilling certain conditions. Puzzle One at DSCG Comment shows one array where White cannot move on 8x8, Kings being in back rank and 'full complement' meaning 50 percent piece density altogether with half of them Pawns. The greater the board size, the more solutions, so 8x8 has thousands using CVPage-indexed pieces. Here is second, albeit similar solution: 8 P____ ____ ____K____N____ ____ ____P Black capital letters 7 P____ ____ ____ ____C____Z____ ____P C Crooked B; N Namel(2.8); 6 P____E____D____ ____R____ ____ ____P Z Zemel(2,6)leaper 5 P____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____I____P E Elbow-Chess Rook that must 4 p____ ____ ____w____n____ ____i____p turn once only 90 degrees 3 p____ ____ ____w____ ____ ____ ____p Immobilizers(Rococo) 2 p____ ____ ____w____ ____n____ ____p Dragon 5-sq. 5+way multi-path 1 p____n____ ____ ____k____ ____ ____p w wazir a b c d e f g h White cannot move because: If Knight-b1 moves, Elbow-Chess Rook has pathway. If w-d2, w-d3 or w-d4 moves, Dragon-c6 has a pathway(each one different). If n-e4 moves, Rook has its pathway. If n-f2 moves, Crooked Bishop has pathway. King cannot move because of leapers Namel(2,8) and Zemel(2,6). See 'Passed Pawns, Scorpions and Dragon', Betza's 'Crooked Bishop', and Gilman's 'From Ungulates Outward'.