Janus Kamil Chess

Introduction Setup Pieces Rules Notes

Introduction

Janus Kamil Chess is a crossover between Janus Chess and Modern Kamil Chess invented by Jörg Knappen in 2004.

Setup

White: Camel a1, l1; Rook b1, k1; Janus c1, j1; Knight d1, i1; Bishop e1, h1; Queen f1; King g1 Black: Camel a10, l10; Rook b10, k10; Janus c10, j10; Knight d10, i10; Bishop e10, h10; Queen f10; King g10

Pieces

The Janus combines the moves of bishop and knight. This piece is also commonly referred to as a Cardinal or Archbishop.

The Camel is a (1, 3) leaper, basically an elongated Knight.

All other pieces move as in orthodox Chess.

Rules

Pawns - An unmoved Pawn can move 1, 2, or 3 spaces. It may be captured en passant on any square passed over. Upon reaching the last rank a pawn promotes to Queen, Janus, Rook, Bishop, Knight, or Camel (any piece in the opening setup except the King.)

Castling - The King can castle with either Rook by moving to the square immediately next to the Rook, which then hops to the adjacent square on the other side. Therefore, the King moves 3 spaces when castling short and 4 spaces when castling long. Castling follows all of the usual restrictions.

All other rules are as those in orthodox Chess.

Notes

I designed this variant with two ideas in my mind:

First, I wanted to design a chess variant with more pieces of different strength. My choices are Camel (a piece weaker than the knight and Janus (with a strength between Rook and Queen).

Second, the opening setup line shall feature as the second and third rank of a large duodecimal variant with more pieces in the first rank. This variant is Quinquereme Chess and extends the range of different strengths.