Mathematichess
Mathematichess is a new chess variant created for both chess lovers and mathematicians. It is played on a normal chess board and involves unique rules that incorporate mathematical concepts.
This game is a combination of Chess, Go, Rummy, and maths. The objective of the game is to control the empty squares that give value points to the owner. The value of a square depends on the number and type of pieces surrounding it.
Setup
The initial setup is an empty board. Each player has 5 Kings, 5 Queens, 5 Rooks, 5 Bishops, 5 Knights, and 5 Pawns, with values ranging from 10 to 1.
The game has two stages:
- In the first stage players take turns placing their pieces anywhere on the board until all pieces are on the board.
- In the second stage players battle for controlling the empty squares.
Each player has 30 pieces. When all pieces are on the board four empty squares should remain. The empty squares are the focus of the game.
Here is an example diagram for the game.
Pieces
Each piece has a certain numerical value.
- The King has a value of 10.
- The Queen has a value of 9.
- The Rook has a value of 5.
- The Knight has a value of 4.
- The Bishop has a value of 3.
- The Pawn has a value of 1.
These values are relative the position of a piece on the chessboard.
Pieces have to move differently from classic chess due to the crowded board.
All piece movements are only allowed towards an empty square.
- Pawns move by jumping over a piece (of the same or different color) in any direction. They cannot jump over a Royal figure: King or Queen.
- Bishops move one square diagonally, or more, if possible.
- Knights move like in the classical chess.
- Rooks move one square orthogonally in any direction, or more, if possible.
- Queens move one square one square in any direction, or more, if possible.
- Kings can only move one square in any direction.
Rules
There is no castling, no en passant, no promotions, no check, and no check mate. Also, there is no capturing of pieces. The battle is arround the empty squares. Each empty square represents a territory whose value is given by the value of the pieces (Settlers) surrounding it. The objective of the game is to control as many territories as possible.
Pieces surrounding a territory (one square away orthogonally or diagonally) are called Settlers. The value of a teritory is given by the value of its Settlers.
Each teritory can have 8 Settlers in the centre of the board, 5 Settlers on a side, and 3 on a corner. Players are allowed to join territories (two or three, or more empty squares) if they can control them.
The value of a territory is calculated as following:
- Pieces controlling the sides have their value doubled.
- Pieces controlling the corners retain their original value.
- The values of all pieces controlling a territory are added together giving the overall value of that territory.
Pieces controlling the sides of a territory (First Class Settlers) are more important than the pieces controlling its corners (Second Class Settlers).
Kings and Queens represent the Royals.
A game cannot end in the first stage.
At the end of the game each player calculates the value of his own territories.
Players may also decide the winning conditions and the value of the additional (bonus) points.
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By Florin Lupusoru.
Last revised by Florin Lupusoru.
Web page created: 2023-05-07. Web page last updated: 2024-01-04