My Own Chess Variants

Yes, I not only play chess variants (including standard Chess), but I also create them!

This article is first in this cycle, and here I list the games which took the most time or/and mental resources to be cute and fully playable.

Horizons

This is my first substantive chess-based game, but though it’s created when I had the least experience in chess variants, it was highly evaluated by several people with more knowledge than I have.

Horizons’ setup with Bob Greenwade’s graphics set.

There are 6 famous standard chessmen and 5 unusual ones. All standard pieces (4 Pawns on 2nd & 11th rows, King & Queen with Bishops and Knights close to them, and Rooks in corners) move exactly as in chess, except for castling where King moves three spaces instead of two, though other conditions (possibility of castling, and Rook moving to the next space behind the King) remain. But then the complications start...

Warrior moves like inverted Pawn (moves forward, but diagonally without taking and straight when taking), also has starting double step (though diagonal), but additionally once per game each Warrior can take straight 2 squares instead of 1.

Shielder (aka Shield-holder) moves without taking like Pawn (including double step on start), but takes directly sideways. His unique features are pushing (moving up to one opposite piece on his forward direction one square backward with placing the Shielder on vacated square) and protection from all frontal captures (even Knight’s); captures aside or backward aren’t rejected.

Stronger pieces move in any direction and capture the same way as they move.

Ox moves T-shape, 2 or 3 squares directly or 3 to one side and 1 to another. But if closest two spaces orthogonally aren’t free, it stops him (he can’t jump).

Magician moves at least 3 spaces like Queen, then turns 45 degrees and steps 1 space, landing only on the final step. His movement trajectory can be blocked, but it’s unique, and if free, Magician is very powerful.

Zip (aka Lightning) moves two spaces straight, then path bifurcates: it turns 45 degrees with stepping one space diagonally, turns 45 degrees back with stepping one space directly, and this cycle repeats until path is occupied.

Rules are similar to Chess (en passant’s mechanic is also same and possible for all Pawn-like pieces, but keep in mind the Shielders’ rejection of taking from front), but 50-move rule is now 75-move, and though Bishops, Knights, Oxen & Rooks can appear by promotion of any Pawn-like piece, Magicians, Zips & Queens can be obtained only by promoting Warriors, Shielders & Pawns, respectively. Sufficient material is as in Chess, all pieces stronger than Bishop are majors.

More detailed rules can be found in this article, which is my only* page written in two languages! (Да-да, именно так.)

Modern Republican Chess

This variant’s idea has come during a dream (!), but then significantly changed several times. Generally it’s possible army for CwDA (Chess with Different Armies), but many versions can be played.

I won’t show the setup because it’s standard on usual 8x8 board. However, pieces are not usual. Though, they are quite simple.
They replace Pawn, Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen and King, respectively.

Warrior is as in Horizons written above, though he hasn’t double step, but two-spaces capture is always possible (not just one time per game).

Motorcyclist moves without taking as Bishop, takes as Rook.

Courser (mounted police) moves without taking as Bishop, takes as Knight.

Hoverboard moves up to 3 squares like Bishop, or after second square turns 45 degrees with step; captures as moves, never jumps.

Paraglider moves, ignoring any obstacles, 1 or 2 spaces diagonallly, or 2 or 3 directly; captures as moves.
President moves as King but never castles.

Rules are as in Chess, but only Courser is minor piece (K vs K+C is a draw). More detailed guide is here, but you should sign in CVP to read it, because this is only* unpublished page mentioned in this blog post. However, if you have CVP acc, you can play on Game Courier this equal version (which is written above) and also asymmetric version where Blue are slightly nerfed because White has FIDE pieces instead of Republicans.

Fluidity Chess

It’s one of the earliest my ideas, but much time passed before it was playable.
Game uses standard board and pieces.

All pieces move without taking and put the opposite King in check as in FIDE chess, but take by cutting through or bypassing the pieces they take. Capturing by displacement is forbidden, as well as taking your own pieces.

Pawn takes an adjacent piece aside from that Pawn by moving forward diagonally to appear behind the target piece, or going through piece when making starting double step; anyway, it can take just 1 piece.

Knight, because he moves two squares to one side and one to another, captures all pieces on these two squares he passes. It can take up to 2 pieces. It is only chessman who can capture cornered ones. Though it’s only one whose capture is optional.

Linear pieces capture up to 3 pieces on any squares on their way, if there’s at least one square behind the all target pieces, and no friendly ones on the way.

King cannot capture at all, so two Kings can be adjacent, but it doesn’t affects their vulnerability — they are still subject to check. However, King can take during castling, up to 2 minors (which can’t check) if they aren’t in row.

Other rules are as in Chess (unless otherwise stated) except for the main aim — stalemate and King capture are also win. More detailed rules are here.

Rocket Chess

This is one of my favorite creations.

Game uses unusual board. Though its geometry changes, orthogonals and diagonals save their meaning.

Rook moves along paths of orthogonally connected cells.

Bishop moves along paths of diagonally connected cells and can reach little more than 3/4 of them.

Astra(l leaper) moves exactly 3 steps away like Rook or 2 away like Bishop. From diagonal rows with even number of squares (outer cells/squares) also can move 2 diagonally then 1 orthogonally outwards. Always ignores anything on the way.

Knight moves to the nearest cells of different shape than starting cell which aren’t on Rook’s or Bishop’s paths. Always ignores anything on the way.

Zip (aka Lightning) moves 2 like a Rook, then alternates diagonal and straight steps; or strictly vertically 2 like Rook then continues vertically.
Aanca moves 1 like Bishop and then slides like Rook.
Archbishop is Bishop+Knight.
Pawn moves and captures similar to Chess, forward and also sideways. Other thing that forward is now to opposite border of board).
King moves 1 in any, but also has boosted move once per game.

Rules are tricky, to win, you must checkmate the King OR race your own to the upper “cockpit” cell. More detailed here.

Thunderstruck Server Chess

This variant wasn’t elaborated as long as others written here, but included unusual technical questions which (after waiting a while) were solved.

Game’s setup with Roberto Lavieri’s “Galactic” graphics set.

Setup is based on Capablanca’s Chess (where Bishop+Knight and Rook+Knight compounds were added to the standard set), but pieces used here are very different.

Axeman moves without taking exactly as normal Pawn, but takes by jumping exactly like Knight, though with only 4 forward directions.

Astra leaps, ignoring anything on the way, exactly 2 diagonally or 3 directly.

Boyscout moves like normal Bishop but turns 90º each step.

Hexmaster moves 1 directly then cycle starts: steps with 45º turn outwards, then steps twice with 45º inwards each step, then turns 45º outwards without stepping; and cycle repeats. It was the hardest piece to be technically coded.

Electrician moves 2 diagonally then steps with turning 45º outwards and inwards each step. He is diagonal calque of Zip which also appears here and moves exactly like described in Horizons’ rules above.

Oracle moves 1 in any direction, then turns 45º outwards and then lands to each second space, ignoring anything between the destinations.
King moves exactly as in Chess, though goes 3 spaces when castling with Hexmasters.

Other rules are like in Chess. Game is playable on Game Courier on that site, thanks to those members who helped; if you have CVP acc, you can try it;).

Like if you enjoyed this page. Maybe there’ll be more articles in the future).

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* at the moment of writing this.