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Steffan O'Sullivan ((email removed contact us for address) plymouth.edu), send me the rules of the following chess variant for three players, on March 1996.


Three Player Chess variant by Steffan O'Sullivan

Copyright 1996 by Steffan O'Sullivan

Pieces

White has twelve pieces: six Pawns, two Bishops, one each of Knight, Rook, Queen, and King.

Red and Black each have ten pieces: four Pawns, two Bishops, one each of Knight, Rook, Queen, and King.

Board, with starting positions

                               White
  ________________________________________________________________
 |XXXXXXX|       |       |       0       |       |       |XXXXXXX|
 |XXXXXXX|   R   |   B   |   K   0   Q   |   B   |   N   |XXXXXXX|
 |XXXXXXX|_______|_______|_______0_______|_______|_______|XXXXXXX|
 |XXXXXXX|       |       |       0       |       |       |XXXXXXX|
 |XXXXXXX|   P1  |   P2  |   P3  0   P4  |   P5  |   P6  |XXXXXXX|
 |XXXXXXX|_______|_______|_______0_______|_______|_______|XXXXXXX|
 |       |       |       |       0       |       |       |       |
 |       |       |       |       0       |       |       |       |
 |_______|_______|_______|_______0_______|_______|_______|_______|
 |       |       |       |       0       |       |       |       |
 |       |       |       |       0       |       |       |       |
 |.......|.......|.......|.......0.......|.......|.......|.......| Equator
 |       |       |       |       0       |       |       |       |
 |       |       |       |       0       |       |       |       |
 |_______|_______|_______|_______0_______|_______|_______|_______|
 |       |       |       |       0       |       |       |       |
 |  P1   |  P2   |  P3   |       0       |  P3   |  P2   |  P1   |
 |_______|_______|_______|_______0_______|_______|_______|_______|
 |       |       |       |       0       |       |       |       |
 |   R   |   N   |   B   |   P4  0  P4   |   B   |   N   |   R   |
 |_______|_______|_______|_______0_______|_______|_______|_______|
 |       |       |       |       I       |       |       |       |
 |   K   |   Q   |   B   |       I       |   B   |   Q   |   K   |
 |_______|_______|_______|_______I_______|_______|_______|_______|
          Black                  ^              Red
                              Midline

Key: 

P = pawn (numbered for the following discussion)         R = Rook
K = King         Q = Queen          N = Knight           B = Bishop
XXXXXXX = Square may not be entered during the game by any piece
..... = Equator: line midway between the two board starting sides
0 = Midline: line dividing the board between Black and Red starting
0            positions
 
I = Impassable Barrier - no piece may cross this barrier or check
I   across it.  Diagonal movement is allowed through the corner,
I   however.  That is, a Bishop could move from the Black P4 space to
    the space adjacent to the Red side of the Impassable Barrier, for
    example.

Rules

Normal chess rules apply except where noted.

Black and Red Pawns move towards White's position, not toward each other.

All of White's Pawns may move two squares on their first moves. Black's and Red's P4s may also move two squares on their first moves. En passant rules apply. Other Black and Red Pawns may only move one space each move.

Only White may Castle - move the King one space, and place the Rook on the King's starting space. Neither may have moved beforehand, and the King must not be in check at the time of castling.

Note that in order for the Black and Red P1s to promote, they must somehow be moved over at least one lane.

The Black P4 may not capture the Red P4 until one or both are across the Equator. Likewise, the Red P4 may not capture the Black P4 until one or both are across the Equator. However, a P4 may capture any other piece across the midline in a normal pawn capture, and then is free to move and capture without restriction. No other Black or Red piece has any restriction regarding the midline or equator. White's pieces have no midline or equator restrictions at all.

When a player is checkmated, remove his King from the board but leave the rest of his pieces where they are. They may be captured by moving into their spaces, but you may not move through them. They may not move and do not exert a check - an opponent's King may move right by them with impunity.

Steffan O'Sullivan, (email removed contact us for address) plymouth.edu, Plymouth, NH http://oz.plymouth.edu/~gaming/

Last modified: March 27, 1996.