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Some Chess and Xiangqi Variants

In June of 1999, Jouni Tolonen wrote:
I have some new(?) chess variants to introduce (I didn't find them at your page and I read the FAQ). These have been invented by my chessfriends at my chess club Shakki-77. We have played them and found them fun. Can you confirm they are new variants and introduce them at your chess variant pages? I have mentioned for each variant a person who gave the original idea for that variant.

Touchdown chess

Invented by Pasi Terästi. Player who is first to get a piece to opponent's first rank (or checkmates) wins.

Shakki-77 chess

Invented by Pasi Terästi. Player who is first to get two pieces simultaneously to the seventh rank (or checkmates) wins.

No return chess

Invented by Pasi Terästi. No piece can move backwards (diagonally, vertically or otherwise).

Handicap eye-glasses chess

Invented by Jouni Tolonen. Stronger player takes his/her eye-glasses off. (This variant we haven't tried on purpose!)


Xiangqi variants

Reverse blindfolded xiangqi

Invented by Jouni Rakennuskoski. Pieces are reversed in the beginning of a game so that they face downwards. Pieces which are taken during the game by either player are not revealed.Play continues normally until one of the players claims that the opponent made an illegal move. The pieces are reversed again. If the opponent really made an illegal move he/she loses, otherwise he/she wins. Good practice for 'normal' xiangqi.

Handicap blindfolded xiangqi

Invented by Ismo Kaarne. Stronger player's pieces are reversed in the beginning of a game so that they face downwards. Weaker player's pieces are placed on their side, facing the weaker player. Pieces which are taken during the game by either player are not revealed. Play continues normally until one of the players claims that the opponent made an illegal move. The pieces are reversed again. If the opponent really made an illegal move he/she loses, otherwise he/she wins.

Handicap reverse blindfolded xiangqi

Invented by Ismo Kaarne. All the pieces are placed on their side, facing the weaker player. Pieces which are taken during the game by either player are not revealed. Play continues normally until one of the players (not necessarily the one who sees the pieces!) claims that the opponent made an illegal move. If the opponent really made an illegal move he/she loses, otherwise he/she wins.
Written by Jouni Tolonen. HTML conversion by David Howe.
WWW page created: June 18, 1999.