Chapter 15, New Pieces

Chapter 15 New pieces (2) : Pieces with limited range [This chapter covers pieces whose range of movement is limited, in the same way that the moves of the king and knight are limited in orthochess.] 15.1 Pieces which can move only one square [The only such piece in orthochess is the king, but the ‘wazir’ (one square orthogonally in any direction), ‘fers’ or ‘firzan’ (one square diagonally in any direction), ‘gold general’ (as wazir and also one square diagonally forward), and ‘silver general’ (as fers and also one square orthogonally forward), have been widely used and will be found in many of the games in the chapters devoted to historical and regional versions of chess. Some other flavours will be found below. In general, games which involve both a one-square mover and ‘something more powerful’ will be found in the section devoted to ‘something more powerful’, but the two later developments of ‘Le Jeu de la Guerre’ are included in this first section for convenience. One-square movers are slow and may seem to be weak, but even the lowly fers can be a potent attacking weapon. ‘Knight for two pawns’ is rarely a good swap, but ‘fers for two pawns’ is a different matter, and a sound tactic, when unobservant defence permits it, is to use the piece with a fers move to smash a hole in the enemy pawn structure so that other men can pour through. In xiangqi (Chinese chess) this piece is confined to a defensive role by the rules of the game, but to restrict it to such a role in other forms of chess may well be a losing strategy.] Le Jeu de la Guerre [M.M.] (‘M.M.’, ranks 1/11, CaHDCuGCaGCuDHCa on ranks perhaps J. Mehler, 1770). Described as a 2/10, 11xF on ranks 3/9. Other arrangements ‘refinement of the game of chess’ and first may have been practised (Easy Introduction to published (in French and German) in Prague. Chess has pieces e1-g1 and e2-g2 transposed). It is important as perhaps the 4rst game, with a (Photocopy of Le Jeu de la Guerre) [In my slightly enlarged board and pieces expressed opinion, the first of the two games described in military terms, to move away from chess as ‘Kriegsfeld Chess’ in the first edition is a and towards what were to become the German version of this. The extract from the kriegsspiels of the 19th century. Declared the secondary source preserved in David’s files author: ‘the ridiculous denominations hitherto merely gives name, country of origin, board used for the pieces, and many other size, and additional pieces with their moves, imperfections in the game of chess, appear to and the board size and additional pieces tally justify my risking their correction’. To-day the exactly.] corrections themselves are open to ridicule. He added, wistfully, that the game ‘will Prussian National Chess (General Baron C. probably always be considered an idle and E. B. Freyherr von Hoverbeck, 1806). A super9uous invention’. It appears however to junker up-date of M.M’s. ‘Le Jeu de la have been fairly widely played in Europe, and Guerre’, dedicated to Friedrich Wilhelm of particularly in Germany, for the better part of Prussia. Board 11x11 (a1 black), 25 men a a century. Board 11x11, 25 men a side: 1 x side: 1 x King, 2 x Body Guard (moves as Q), King, 2 x King’s Guard (moves as Q), 5 x 2 x Light Cannon (as R), 2 x Dragoon, Cannon (as R), 2 x Dragoon, Hussar (both as Cuirassier (both as B), 3 x Hussar (as N), 2 x B), 2 x Cuirassier (as N), 11 x Fusilier (move Battery (see below); 11 x Fusilier (as in Le Jeu one move orthogonally in any direction, de la Guerre). Note that the cuirassiers and capture one square diagonally in any hussars have changed roles. The battery moves directions). No castling. CaKCa centred on as a rook up to three squares in any direction. New pieces with limited range 129 It captures similarly but need not move to do the ritter like a bishop. Pawns move one so; it cannot give check itself, but only with square diagonally forward, and promote to another piece. No castling; if a check is ritter. Capture is by displacement. The object unannounced, the attacker is huffed. BaKBa is to capture the opponent’s dame. Array (a1- centred on ranks 1/11, CaHDCuGHGCuDHCa g1/h8-b8 and inwards, black squares only) on ranks 2/10, 11xF on ranks 3/9. (Photocopy PRDP, 4xP. The rule book cost 3d in English, of Das preussische National-Schach up to in German or Slovene (!) 4d. (Photocopy of page 31, plus diagram showing the board) booklet Schachdame, also notes apparently derived from a copy of the English edition in Silberschmidt’s Game (H. Silberschmidt, the British Library) 1827). Described as ‘New, Improved Kriegspiel’, this is another development of Nemesis Chess (Philip Cohen, 1973). Usual M.M’s ‘Le Jeu de la Guerre’. Board 11x11, 27 set-up but pawns on a, b, g, h files replaced by men a side: 1 x King, 2 x Royal Guard (moves nemeses. A nemesis moves and captures like a as Q+N), 2 x Guard (as Q), 4 x Hussar (as B), king but only towards the opposing king. 2 Cuirassiers (as N), 5 x Cannon (as R), 11 x Marking time is not allowed. (Example: BKf4; Soldier (move one square forward or WNeg2. Ne can move to f2, f3, g3, but not sideways, capture one square diagonally h3.) A nemesis can only be captured by Q, R, forward). RKR e1-g1/e11-g11, CaCa on a1/k1 B, or N (knight). (Manuscript notes and a11/k11, CaHHCuGCaGCuHHCa on presumably deriving from personal ranks 2/10, 11xS on ranks 3/9. The communication) preponderance of heavy pieces unbalances the play. (Photocopy of chapter 6 of Das New Chess [Bajon] (Michael Bajon, 1991). Schachspiel unter Zweien) Board 9x9; extra piece is the King’s Pawn (Pion du Roi) that moves like a king but never Schachdame, also known as Chess-Draughts backwards. It has no royal powers except that [Richter] (Heinrich Richter, 1883). A blend of the opposing K cannot occupy a square chess and draughts, described as ‘a new family adjacent to it. Baseline (others have been game’. Board 8x8; a1 black. Each side has a tried) (a1-i1/i9-a9) RNBQKKpBNR (queens Dame, a Ritter (literally: knight) and 6 pawns. on d1/f9). (Manuscript notes in Elaine’s Play is on the black squares only. The dame handwriting, apparently a translation from an moves one square diagonally in any direction, unspecified source) 15.2 Pieces which can move up to two squares [The only such piece in orthochess is the knight, but several other such pieces will be found in the chapters devoted to historical and regional versions of chess. Particularly prominent have been the ‘horse’ (moves as knight but one step orthogonally and then one vertically, and the intermediate square must be empty), the ‘fil’ or ‘alfil’ (leaps two squares diagonally), and the ‘elephant’ (moves two squares diagonally and the intervening square must be empty). Some more flavours follow.] Arch Chess [Piacenza], also known as may have originated with Piacenza, but it will Piacenza’s Chess (Francesco Piacenza, 1683). reappear many times.] Arch was a term given, according to the author of Chess (1784), ‘to improvements and Siege d’Anvers (J. A. Bordier-Marcet, 1833). corruptions of chess’. Board 10x10 a1 black; Inspired by the capture of Antwerp by the extra pieces are a Centurion (leaps as N or two French and intended to represent more squares as R or B) and a Decurion (moves one accurately the military nature of the game. square diagonally); baseline (a1-j1/a10-j10) Board 10x10; 20 pieces a side, 1 x King, 1 x RNBCKQDBNR. Many authorities are Marshal (moves as queen), 2 x Lunette unreliable. (I Campaggiamenti degli Scacchi) (bastion, as R), 2 x Ensign (as B), 2 x [The D is of course the ancient fers; the C Brigadier (as N), 2 x Bomb (two squares 130 Other games using square lattice boards orthogonally, can leap over any man but not Gérams World Chess (Proprietary game, over the king, ‘out of respect’, except to parry Gérams Skaakbureau; G. Menssink, 1937). a check), 2 x Sappers (one or two squares 84-square board made up of an inner 8x8 diagonally in any direction, but captures like board b2-i9 plus four groups of five squares in P) 2 x Grenadier (as P, but always has option an L (c1-a1-a3, a8-a10-c10, etc); two extra of moving one or two squares), 6 x Fusilier (as men a side known as Gerams. These additions, P). Fusiliers and grenadiers promote to any supposes the inventor, should satisfy those piece lost, sappers do not promote. Array (a1- grandmasters (he mentions Capablanca and j1/j10-a10 and inwards) LBrBoEMKEBoBrL Lasker) who are striving to avoid draws. Usual (kings on f1/e10), SGFFFFFFGS. (Faidutti) array on inner 8x8 board, with the Gerams in the four outside corner squares. Once a G Decimal Chess [Obert] (Carl Obert, 1880). moves, its initial square disappears. The G Board 10x10; extra pieces are Guardians, moves two squares orthogonally, thus always which move one square diagonally and staying on its original colour. However, when capture one square orthogonally. In the entering the inner board a single diagonal starting position, the guardian can leap two move is made. Thus Ga1-a3 and then either b2 squares forward (and may do so again if or b4; or Ga1-c1 and then b2 or d2; Ga1-b2 is returning to the start square).

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