Royal CannonChess

This page contains one or more presets for playing a game online with Game Courier, an online server for playing Chess variants by correspondence.

In Royal CannonChess normal chess rules apply except for the following. Any piece (not pawn) adjacent to the friendly King acquires additional capture powers. Positioned next to the majesty it can capture an enemy ahead of it on the same file, but only if there is another friendly piece in between, and any interim squares are empty. Only capture moves are allowed (no cannon movement without capture). So now any piece can go to the kingly battery, load a cannon, and turn itself into a ballistic missile.

This capture capability derives from the Cannon in Chinese Chess (however, the Chinese Cannon can also move like a rook, and can also jump over enemy pieces). In this variant the Cannon capture is utilized in a different way. The Cannon does not appear as a physical piece. Instead, any piece can, as it were, load a Cannon, and make a long leap. Pieces that fulfil the requirements for making a Cannon capture are referred to as "cannons," e.g., "a bishop-cannon on f1".

This variant is interesting because there is an inherent conflict between protecting the King, and, on the other hand, to keep the King near the battle situation, while it can increase the strength of the friendly pieces, which can then attack by Cannon captures. Probably one should try to keep the King in the center, and not castle too readily. Already in the middle game, a daring player might advance with the King, in order to provide his army with Cannon reinforcement.

The following preset makes a reasonably good validity check of cannon moves, etc. Moves are automated, including castling and the 'en passant' move. Pieces can be moved by pointing and clicking. When promoting a pawn, it will automatically turn into a Queen. Should you prefer another piece then you must type it manually (e.g., add N a8; capture a7). Use small piece-letters for black. E-mails to your opponent are generated, but you can play online by intermittently pressing the browser's update button.

The knight can capture the black
rook since it is positioned next to the
king, and there is a friendly piece in
between.

Royal CannonChess

You can also download a Zillions implementation

here.

See also my other Game Courier presets.

This 'user submitted' page is a collaboration between the posting user and the Chess Variant Pages. Registered contributors to the Chess Variant Pages have the ability to post their own works, subject to review and editing by the Chess Variant Pages Editorial Staff.

By M Winther.
Web page created: 2006-08-02. Web page last updated: 2006-08-02