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This page is written by the game's inventor, David Cannon.

Windows Chess

Windows Chess was inspired by the arch-shaped front window of a house in my neighbourhood. It occurred to me that a game resembling both orthodox FIDE chess and circular chess could be played on a board resembling that window.

Setup

Pieces

Rules

The basic FIDE rules are retained, though with the following changes :
1. The ROOK moves in orbits around the loops, as well as on north-south orthogonal lines.
2. The BISHOP has its traditional moves on the 48-square grid, but on the 16 “polar” cells (the trapezes), it takes on interesting properties. Each trapeze acts as a pivot which swivels the bishop’s move. There are also four paths, passing through the polar cells into the main grid, which unbind the bishop, allowing it to move from cells of one colour to the other.
3. The KNIGHT’s move is unchanged, except in the polar regions. Twisting through the trapezes bends the three steps of a knight’s move, sometimes allowing it to move to an adjacent cell.
4. There is no castling or en passent capturing.
5. On reaching a cell occupied by an enemy non-pawn piece, pawns promote to CONQUEROR, a Queen-Knight compound, which exists only as a promotion piece.
6. Win by checkmating the opponent. Stalemate and baring the King also count as a qualified win, better than a draw but not as good as a checkmate. One point for a checkmate, half a point to each player for a draw, and half a point to one player for forcing a stalemate or baring the opponent’s King.

Notes

I have programmed a Zillions of Games file to play this game. You may download it here. You need the Zillions of Games engine installed to play it.


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 David Cannon.
Web page created: 2013-12-25. Web page last updated: 2013-12-25

Categories and Details


Credits

By David Cannon.

Comments

Windows Chess. Windows Chess is played with usual chess equipment on a board inspired by an arch-window. (8x8, Cells: 64)
George Duke wrote on Thu, Jan 2, 2014 05:20 PM EST:Good ★★★★
This designer is intent on specializing in unsusual boards: http://www.chessvariants.org/index/msdisplay.php?itemid=MSmatrixchess,

http://www.chessvariants.org/index/msdisplay.php?itemid=MSchessonasoccer,

http://www.chessvariants.org/index/msdisplay.php?itemid=MSroundhoneycomb.

David Cannon wrote on Wed, Jan 1, 2014 06:01 PM EST:
Thanks for the idea, Daniil!

Daniil Frolov wrote on Wed, Jan 1, 2014 12:32 PM EST:
True variantist think about chess even while simply looking at windows, doors, carpets and pillows. ;)
One could also make board like this:

If board will be extended, this shape can be used to make four-player game.

💡📝David Cannon wrote on Wed, Dec 25, 2013 10:41 PM EST:
Note to editors: I'm more or less finished now.  I don't know how to link it to the zillions file under the "See also" heading, so I'd be grateful if you'd do that fore me.  Thanks!

💡📝David Cannon wrote on Wed, Dec 25, 2013 05:36 AM EST:
I'm not finished yet.  I have a few more images to upload and some polishing to do before the game is ready for publication, so I would respectfully ask the editors to postpone publication until I've finished (in 24-48 hours or so).  Thanks!

Number of ratings: 1, Average rating: Good, Number of comments: 5

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https://www.chessvariants.com/rules/windows-chess
First Created: Wednesday, December 25th, 2013
Last Modified: Wednesday, December 25th, 2013
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