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Who is Who on Eight by Eight

Compiled by Ivan A Derzhanski <(email removed contact us for address) h.bas.bg>, 11 March 2001

I told Zillions of Games to set up the board for Chess and asked it what it thought of the values of all the men in the initial position, taking notes of all the responses.

Then I repeated the procedure for Fairy Chess (plugging in the fairy beings, kind by kind, in the initial positions of orthodox men they resembled most), for Ultima, Ralph Betza's different armies, Shatranjirocco and as many other games as I found implemented on the eight by eight board.

The exercise was whetting my appetite; so I drafted some men from games implemented on larger boards, then wrote rules for some that I had found in unimplemented games or in collections of fairy pieces not attached to a game, and finally invented some pieces myself, for the round number.

So here they are, 200 pieces arranged by the values they have on the eight by eight board. The plus signs after the names indicate ability to promote, something ZoG holds in very high esteem; so it thinks the OrthoChess Pawn, which promotes to four different things, considerably more valuable than the one in Shatranj or DropChess, which only promote to one or two, and the Shatranjirocco one more valuable still, because in that game the promotion zone is twice larger.

I have not reflected the ability of the lion movers (Raven, Parrot, Horned Falcon, Soaring Eagle and Lion, as well as my additions, Dark Bird, Colour Bird and Cockatoo) to pass a turn, but that doesn't affect their values significantly.

Of course, ZoG's idea about how much everything is worth isn't always the right one, and the initial position, where the values have been tested, is quite atypical for some pieces. So take this with a grain of salt (but I hope it is interesting anyway). And never forget the size of the board. On a larger board the sliders are stronger; the terrifying gap between the fortified Queens and the Tiger Horse and Lion is a feature of this board.

Talking of which, here are a couple of games with non-identical (but arguably more or less equal) armies that ZoG had a good time with:

But enough digressions. On to the men:

Point ValueGamePieceMovementNotes

1275.617

Shatranj

Pawn

fW/fF

 

1360

QuangTrung

Soldier

fW or fF

fW if something behind, fF otherwise.

1438.25

Drop

SidePawn

fW/sW

 

1888.135

Chess

Pawn+

fW/fF

 

1988.5

Fairy

Cavalier

W^F

Horse (Chinese Chess)

2014.5

Touranian

Coin/Boat

nA+nD

Alibaba-darter (Jelliss)

2044.031

Berolina

BeroPawn+

fF/fW

 

2145.75

Tamerlane

Talia

F then B

 

2192.25

Shatranj

Alfil

A

 

2218.188

Scirocco

Pawn++

 

Promotes optionally on last two rows.

2274.063

Cavalier

Cavalier+

 

 

2329.5

Grimbert

Hippocampus

overtaking N

Captures between source and destination.

2398.875

Tenjiku

Dog

fW+bF

 

2432

Fish

FishPawn+

vW/fF

 

2558.5

Demichess

Crab

ffN+bsN

 

2571

Demichess

Lobster

fA+bF

 

2694.75

Demiurge

Crab+

 

 

2727

Demiurge

Lobster+

 

 

2787.25

Fairy

Grasshopper

 

As Leon, but lands immediately after screen.

2815.25

Fairy

Dabbaba

D

 

2837.938

Drop

Iron

fK

 

2845.375

Mobile

Mobile Pawn+

fsW/fF

 

2895.75

Jupiter

Mock Turtle

A/R4

 

2898

Scirocco

Alfil+

 

 

2924.125

Shatranj

Firzan

F

 

3019.5

Fairy

Alfilrider

AA

 

3206.5

Grimbert

Nereid

overtaker B

 

3212.75

Fairy

Wazir

W

 

3255.75

Japan

Copper

vW+fF

 

3365

Ultima

Coordinator

coordinating Q

 

3377.5

Fairy

Giraffe

G

 

3396

Ultima

Chamaeleon

chamaeleon Q

 

3423.5

Fairy

Leon

 

Korean Cannon action in Queen directions.

3512.25

Fairy

Zebra

Z

 

3594

Balaklava

BalaPawn

P+mfN

Can't promote by Knight move.

3672.25

Scirocco

Dabbaba+

 

 

3707

Scirocco

Firzan+

 

 

3769.563

Battler

Strong Pawn+

fK

 

3807.5

(Scirocco)

Waggon

W then R

 

3879.188

Xhess

Horseman

P+mf(W^F)

 

3905.25

Japan

Silver

F+fW

 

4114.75

Demichess

Snail

W+fD

 

4120.5

Töws

Nun

B2

Flying Dragon (Japan)

4165.25

Scirocco

Guard+

 

 

4198.625

UltiBattle

Camel

C

 

4294.25

Demiurge

Snail+

 

 

4302.5

Scirocco

Wazir+

 

 

4529.5

Tank

Bomb

mK+boom rad 1

 

4591.75

Drop

Topguard

F+vW

Ferocious Leopard (Japan)

4658

QuangTrung

Counsellor

A+(3,0)

 

4659

Tank

Abomb

mK+boom rad 2

 

4723.75

QuangTrung

Chariot

overtaker R

Triton (Grimbert)

4741

Fairy

Dabbabarider

DD

 

4746

Scirocco

Waggon+

 

 

4949.5

Typhoon

Bishop's Dog

B3

 

5001

Scirocco

Stork+

A+cW

 

5056

Töws

Hut

R2

Violent Ox (Japan)

5061.5

Scirocco

Zebra+

 

 

5080

Japan

Gold

W+fF

 

5083.45

Chess

Knight

N

 

5147.25

Fairy

Camelrider

CC

 

5150

Cazaux

Hunter

fR+bB

MultiGeneral (Tenjiku)

5200

Cazaux

Falcon

fB+bR

 

5202

Jelliss

Ferfil

F+A

Priest (Drop)

5248.5

Scirocco

Zag

FA+overtaker W

 

5388.875

Colourbound

Phoenix

W+A

 

5467.5

Grimbert

Llama

P+C

 

5482.25

Abstract

Vao

diagonal Pao

 

5549

(Tam/Sci)

Wagtail

K then Q

Waggon + Talia

5549.75

Nutty

Fibnif

F+vN

 

5655.5

Scirocco

Camel+

 

 

5837.75

Japan

Kylin

F+D

 

5849.5

Scirocco

Spider

mW^B

 

5896

Scirocco

Goat+

mF+D

 

5922.821

Chess

Bishop

B

 

6009

Drop

Vertical

vR+sW

 

6026.25

Biform 1

 

N/Q

March Hare (Jupiter)

6223.5

Fairy

Drake

P+N

 

6258.75

Japan

Side Mover

sR+vW

 

6269.5

Demiurge

Turtle

AD/Q4

Jupiter's Mock Turtle democked.

6276.417

Mad

Infantryman

B/W

 

6355.25

Remarkable

Woody Rook

W+D

 

6388.5

Fairy

Griff

P+B

 

6400.75

Abstract

Commoner

K

 

6444.5

Scirocco

Zig

WD+overtaker F

 

6597

Scirocco

Knight+

 

 

6793.5

Scirocco

Dervish+

AD+relay leap self

 

6796

Nutty

Forfnibakking

fN+sbK

 

6918.75

QuangTrung

Skirook

D^R

Cannon (QuangTrung)

6928.5

(Big Battle)

OverBishop

B+A

 

6943.5

Tank

Tank

pusher K

 

6981

Demichess

Oyster

Cra+Lob

 

6987.75

Japan

Whale

vR+bB

 

7020

Typhoon

Raven

lF

 

7076

Demiurge

Oyster+

 

 

7094.375

Typhoon

Tadpole

F+(3,0)+cW

 

7225.75

Omega

Wizard

F+C

 

7241.75

Töws

Spy

N+A

 

7294

(Scirocco)

Chariot

R4

ShortRook (Remarkable, Amazon)

7324

(Taikyoku)

OnBishop

F+A^B

 

7333.25

Ultima

Pincer

intertaker R

 

7399.25

Japan

Pale Horse

vR+fB

 

7439

Scirocco

Octopus

mF^R

 

7447.5

Tamerlane

Ship

F^vR

 

7507.5

Grimbert

Mermaid

overtaker Q

 

7525

Drop

Rookie

fsR+bW

 

7572.75

Mad

Warlord

N+(3,0)

 

7603

Mad

Valkyrie

B/Q

 

7608.125

Cavalier

Nightrider

NN

 

7727.75

Battler

Strong Bishop

B+mW

 

7777.5

Abstract

Murray Lion

AD+cK

 

7907

Scirocco

Bishop+

 

 

7942.25

Jupiter

Crow

F&F

 

7984.5

(Scirocco)

Priest

F+N

Steelqueen (Mad)

8153.5

Scirocco

Commoner+

 

 

8220

Scirocco

Harpy

mQ+relay N

 

8263.25

Colourbound

FerAlfDa

FAD

 

8301.25

Biform 1

 

B/NR

 

8385

Abstract

Pao

Cn Cannon

 

8406.25

Remarkable

HalfDuck

FD+(3,0)

 

8414.75

Jupiter

Dragon Pony

B3+W

 

8448.583

Mad

Footsoldier

R/F

 

8453.889

Chess

Rook

R

 

8461.167

(Scirocco)

Marquis

W+N

Stoneking (Mad)

8662

Typhoon

Parrot

lW

 

8702.5

Omega

Champion

WAD

 

8719.75

Colourbound

BiDabba

B+D

 

8754.5

Balaklava

BalaBishop

B+mN

 

8832.5

Biform 1

 

K/NQ

 

8849

Nutty

Furlurlbakking

fsR+bK

 

8875.25

Biform 2

 

NB/R

 

8877.25

Jupiter

Toucan

W&W

 

9184.5

Elvish

Seeress

Q2

 

9222.5

Scirocco

Chariot+

 

 

9255

Drop

Archbishop

B+W

Dragon Horse (Japan)

9264.5

Jupiter

Dragon Duke

R3+F

 

9281

Abstract

(Boat)

P+R

PawnRook (Abstract), Ship (Grimbert)

9333

Mad

Unicorn

N+vR

 

9388.25

Scirocco

Wildebeest

N+C

Gnu (Fairy)

9567.75

Mad

Rhinoceros

N+sR

 

9664

Biform 2

 

KN/Q

 

9899.5

(Big Battle)

OverRook

R+D

 

9962.75

Japan

Flying Ox

B+vR

 

9970.75

Typhoon

Horned Owl

B4+sbD+flW

 

10092

Fantasy

Dragon

W^B

 

10112

Mad

Berserker

R/Q

 

10182.25

Japan

Free Boar

B+sR

 

10219.56

Scirocco

Squirrel

AND

 

10323.5

(Taikyoku)

OnRook

W+D^R

 

10432

Scirocco

Priest+

 

 

10462.75

Scirocco

Frog

K(3,0)(3,3)

 

10484

Biform 1

 

R/NB

 

10530

Scirocco

Abbot

B4+N

 

10685.5

Scirocco

Vulture

K+B/R

 

10745

Töws

Archdeacon

B+R2

 

10923.56

Fairy

Cardinal

B+N

 

10986.5

Scirocco

Marquis+

 

 

11013

Ultima

Immobiliser

freezer Q

 

11085.5

Typhoon

Dayrider

AADD+mK

 

11162.25

Biform 2

 

NR/B

 

11185

Ultima

Withdrawer

undertaker Q

 

11319.25

Balaklava

BalaRook

R+mN

 

11388

Drop

Tower

R+F

Dragon King (Japan)

11410.5

Typhoon

Centaur

K+N

 

11492.5

Ultima

Longleaper

overtaker* Q

 

11494.75

Cazaux

Squire

KAD

 

11803.5

Typhoon

Diving Osprey

R4+bA+flF

 

11819.25

(Jupiter)

(Dark Bird)

lF+F&F

Raven + Crow

12064.25

Fantasy

Gryphon

F^R

 

12137.5

Scirocco

Scirocco+

 

 

12272.5

Scirocco

Duke

R4+N

 

12747

Typhoon

Ibis

K+R/B

 

12962

Nutty

Forfnifurlrurking

K+fN+fsR

 

13114

Biform 2

 

Q/N

Mad Hatter (Jupiter)

13287.5

Jelliss

Banshee

B+NN

Unicorn (Unicorn)

13461.5

Abstract

Leo

Pao+Vao

 

13492.75

Fairy

Marshall

R+N

 

13625

Typhoon

Typhoon

FA+snowplow R3

 

13882.5

Scirocco

Genie

Q3+igui

 

14028

(Jupiter)

(Colour Bird)

lW+W&W

Parrot + Toucan

14073.5

Typhoon

Emperor

Q2+N

 

14112.33

Chess

Queen

Q

 

14244.75

Japan

Horned Falcon

B+sbR+flW

 

14672

Japan

Soaring Eagle

R+bB+flF

 

14726.25

Mad

Spectre

Q+(3,3)

 

15518.5

(Typhoon)

(Cockatoo)

lW+lF

Parrot + Raven

15546.5

Mad

Steeldragon

Q+(3,0)

 

15563

(Elvish)

(Loredragon)

B+W^B

Bishop + Dragon

16339.25

Cavalier

Lighthorse

N+mQ

 

16382.5

Big Battle

OverQueen

QAD

Queen (Big Battle)

16436.13

Scirocco

Lioness

KAND

 

17120

Taikyoku

OnQueen

K+AD^Q

Heavenly Tetrarchs King (Taikyoku)

17262.5

Balaklava

BalaQueen

Q+mN

 

18644.25

Cavalier

Lightrider

NN+mQ

 

19081.5

Fantasy

Godzilla

F^R+W^B

Gryphon + Dragon

19184.17

Fairy

Amazon

Q+N

 

20168.75

Elvish

Loremaster

R+F^R

Rook + Gryphon

21347.5

Jelliss

Queen of the Night

Q+NN

 

24502.5

Jupiter

Tiger Horse

FANDC+cN^W

 

34084.5

Japan

Lion

K&K

 


Written by Ivan A Derzhanski. Converted to HTML by David Howe.
WWW page created: 5 September 2001.