A new form of random chess. The opening setup for the pawns is
chosen randomly while satisfying the condition that the pawns must be
either placed on the second or third rank. There are 256 possible
configurations.
All of them are sound and balanced, and fully playable. Black's setup
mirrors
white's. In all other respects this game is the same as orthodox chess. The
opening setup for the pieces on the first rank is the same as in orthodox
chess.
This is convenient, as chessplayers will feel immediately at home.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/randompawn.htm

Regards,

Mats Winther
(for hit count
Mats Winther
Mats Winther
Mats Winther
Mats Winther

On Tue, 23 May 2006 14:30:24 +0200, "Mats Winther"
wrote:

white's. In all other respects this game is the same as orthodox chess.

If a pawn starts on the third rank, can it move two squares on its
first move?
---
Replace you know what by j to email

Den 2006-05-23 18:24:58 skrev Jud McCranie
:

On Tue, 23 May 2006 14:30:24 +0200, "Mats Winther"
wrote:

white's. In all other respects this game is the same as orthodox chess.

If a pawn starts on the third rank, can it move two squares on its
first move?
---
Replace you know what by j to email



No, all rules are the same as in normal chess.
It seems like all 256 setups are balanced. For instance, if black's pawn
is on f6, then white cannot check with the queen on h5 because there
is a white pawn that blocks the way on f3. White and black have the
same weaknesses.

Note that my all my chess variants are free to use, also commercially.

Mats


________________________________________



Random pawns Chess, by Mats Winther
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/randompawn.htm
Twinmove Chess - a fully practicable double-move chess by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/twinmove.htm
Scorpion Chess - introducing the dangerous Scorpion pawn, by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/scorpion.htm
Mastodon Chess - a new big-board chess, by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/mastodon.htm
Harpy Chess - introducing the pestering Harpy, by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/harpy.htm

Den 2006-05-23 18:39:08 skrev Mats Winther :

In his upcoming series Kasparov will discuss the "opening revolution",
which had its beginnings in the seventies. For the ambitious amateur,
the present development in chess, the advanced level of opening
science, is injurious to creativity and phantasy. In Rubinstein's and
Lasker's time grandmasters could still play the exchange variation in
the French with a good deal of success. But what's the point in
feeding 25 moves in the Sicilian Dragon, against another ambitious
amateur, and then shake hands since a theoretical drawn position is
reached? I see amateurs do this. Fide-chess can soon be renamed
"Opening Study Chess". All this agony over opening variants vanishes
with Chess256. The freedom is much bigger there. In orthodox
chess you are cooped up in opening lines which you don't really like.
You are forced to play against your own nature because there are no
good strategical alternatives. Everything else is drawish. This is due
to the advancement of opening science. I don't think Fide-chess should
vanish, it's just that it's high time that we think about alternatives.

To unleash their creativity amateurs cannot go on studying openings
using a chess database, because then creativity and fun is thwarted. I
knew an ambitious amateur (around Elo 2170) who devoted years and
years to perfecting his opening repertoire. But, unlike grandmasters,
he lacked the capacity to creatively improve the variants, and, by
this monotonous activity, he managed to deaden his natural passion for
the game. And then it became obvious that he couldn't play those
variants because his opponents would prepare against his variations
using their own databases. An ambitious amateur cannot afford keeping
alternative opening systems, it's too much work involved. On the other
hand, amateurs can seldom play small openings systems like Réti,
because they lack the capacity to make the most of those small
positional advantages that can be utilized in the endgame.

So how about "Circular Chess", for an alternative? It's a modernized
version of thousand year old Byzantine Chess. If you should devote
your energy to Circular Chess instead, then you could become World
Champion. How about partaking in next month Circular Chess World
Championship?
http://www.circularchess.co.uk/2006event.htm

I foresee that Fide-chess is approaching a crisis in the near future.



________________________________________



Random pawns Chess, by Mats Winther
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/randompawn.htm
Twinmove Chess - a fully practicable double-move chess by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/twinmove.htm
Scorpion Chess - introducing the dangerous Scorpion pawn, by Mats
Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/scorpion.htm
Mastodon Chess - a new big-board chess, by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/mastodon.htm
Harpy Chess - introducing the pestering Harpy, by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/harpy.htm



--
Använder Operas banbrytande e-postklient: http://www.opera.com/m2/

Den 2006-05-23 20:44:48 skrev Mats Winther :




Moreover.....
a great barrier in orthodox chess is opening knowledge. To attain
a respectable level of play is impossible without extensive and time-
consuming opening studies. Time and again amateurs go astray in the
opening, and the positions reached are awkward. This could make chess
a frustrating experience. On the other hand, at professional level, chess
is deteriorating on account of too much opening knowledge, aided by
computers. The combative aspect is quenched. "Chess256"
presents a solution, in that it's now possible to attain a tenable and
interesting middlegame position without burying oneself in opening
studies.
Chess256, by Mats Winther:
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/randompawn.htm


Read the article of this gamer, who experienced the opening
phase in chess as frustrating.

Chess, Checkers, and Go: A Short Comparison:
http://www.bobnewell.net/nucleus/bnewell.php?itemid=220

Mats W


________________________________________



Random pawns Chess, by Mats Winther
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/randompawn.htm
Twinmove Chess - a fully practicable double-move chess by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/twinmove.htm
Scorpion Chess - introducing the dangerous Scorpion pawn, by Mats
Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/scorpion.htm
Mastodon Chess - a new big-board chess, by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/mastodon.htm
Harpy Chess - introducing the pestering Harpy, by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/harpy.htm






--
Använder Operas banbrytande e-postklient: http://www.opera.com/m2/

On Tue, 23 May 2006 18:39:08 +0200, "Mats Winther"
wrote:

Den 2006-05-23 18:24:58 skrev Jud McCranie
If a pawn starts on the third rank, can it move two squares on its
first move?

No, all rules are the same as in normal chess.

In normal chess, a pawn can move two squares on its first move.
---
Replace you know what by j to email

Den 2006-05-24 01:36:34 skrev Jud McCranie
:

On Tue, 23 May 2006 18:39:08 +0200, "Mats Winther"
wrote:

Den 2006-05-23 18:24:58 skrev Jud McCranie
If a pawn starts on the third rank, can it move two squares on its
first move?

No, all rules are the same as in normal chess.

In normal chess, a pawn can move two squares on its first move.
---
Replace you know what by j to email


Well, in normal chess a pawn can move two steps if positioned on
the second rank.

Mats

Den 2006-05-24 07:36:00 skrev Mats Winther :



There is an interesting alternative: let's select a suitable position
from FischeRandom Chess which satisfies the condition that the
position is balanced, and still makes possible a slight initiative for
white. I propose the following position: RNKQNBBR

The only difference compared with Fide-chess is the opening setup,
which has been selected from the array of opening positions in
FischeRandom Chess. Castling on the king side is performed by moving
the king to the g-file. Castling on the queen side is performed by
simply moving the rook to the d-file.

For example, after 1.e4 e5 2.Nd3 Nc6 3.f4 white can try and maintain
an initiative. The following opening example also gives a slight
advantage to white: 1.d4 d5 2.f3 Nf6 3.e4

Some players will complain that the Sicilian opening is less
attractive now that the king is positioned on the c-file. On the other
hand, the "Dutch-B" (1.d4 f5) is now upgraded to an adequate opening,
on a par with the Sicilian.

Castle on the queen side will occur more often in Chess-B, but castle
on the king side will continue to be an attractive alternative. We
will probably see many more games with different castles, something
which vouches for combative play.

Chess-B could be the necessary vitamin injection to chess in the
future. It is to be regarded as a complement to Fide-chess. Normal
opening strategy applies, and the players will feel quite at home.
Yet, all opening theory will now be obsolete, and an additional
Encyclopedia of Chess Openings has to be developed. Grandmasters could
again partake in tournaments without being overburdened with opening
work, and can have less fear of nasty opening surprises. Chess-B could
be played interchangeably with Fide-chess in a tournament.
Alternatively, tournaments with only Chess-B could be arranged. Chess
players will continue with their habit of studying openings, however,
they now have a fresh position to work from.

Mats Winther

--------------------------------

Random pawns Chess, by Mats Winther
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/randompawn.htm
Twinmove Chess - a fully practicable double-move chess by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/twinmove.htm
Scorpion Chess - introducing the dangerous Scorpion pawn, by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/scorpion.htm
Mastodon Chess - a new big-board chess, by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/mastodon.htm
Harpy Chess - introducing the pestering Harpy, by Mats Winther.
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/harpy.htm

On Wed, 24 May 2006 07:36:00 +0200, "Mats Winther"
wrote:

Well, in normal chess a pawn can move two steps if positioned on
the second rank.

The rules don't seem to say anything about it being on the second
rank, just its starting position.
---
Replace you know what by j to email

"All of them are ... balanced."

It's an interesting concept, but this claim is demonstratably false.

Suppose White begins with a position like 1.b3. Already, this position
is unbalanced as a 1000-game database shows White wins 37.3% while
Black wins only 30.6%.

However, in your game world, White gets an extra tempo! 1. Bb2.
Clearly, an extra tempo for White to develop his army is to his further
advantage (no zugzwang here).