The only difference between "Scorpion Chess" and regular chess is the
additional movement directions of the pawn, which is called
"Scorpion". The Scorpion has the additional moves of a knight, but
only in two forward directions: east-north-east, and west-north-west.
There are no additional capture moves. The Scorpion's value is half
the value of a knight or bishop, that is, 1.5. This means that a light
piece can be exchanged for two Scorpions, a possibility which often
occurs. In the endgame it could become very dangerous, and its value
often increases.

Scorpion Chess, and the new Scorpion pawn, were invented by
undersigned, May 2006. The Scorpion opens up many new tactical
possiblities, both in the defense and the attack. The endgame is much
more aggressive, while Scorpions, unlike pawns, are not easy to block.
In Scorpion Chess, drawish endgames won't occur often. Unlike in
orthodox chess, a broken pawn chain is not a big defect while the
Scorpion pawn chain is not static. Castling could be dangerous if the
opponent has not yet castled, since the rook file can be opened by a
sideways moving Scorpion. A king that lingers in the centre can be
protected by sideways moving Scorpions. Two Scorpion pawns equal a
light piece. This contributes to the stability of the positions,
despite the increase in the tactical possibilities. A strategical
depth is retained, while new tactical themes are introduced. This game
has some very fine qualities.

My chess variants are free to use, also commercially.

Best Regards,

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
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 20:24:34 skrev Mats Winther :

The only difference between "Scorpion Chess" and regular chess is the
additional movement directions of the pawn, which is called
"Scorpion". The Scorpion has the additional moves of a knight, but
only in two forward directions: east-north-east, and west-north-west.
There are no additional capture moves. The Scorpion's value is half
the value of a knight or bishop, that is, 1.5. This means that a light
piece can be exchanged for two Scorpions, a possibility which often
occurs. In the endgame it could become very dangerous, and its value
often increases.

Scorpion Chess, and the new Scorpion pawn, were invented by
undersigned, May 2006. The Scorpion opens up many new tactical
possiblities, both in the defense and the attack. The endgame is much
more aggressive, while Scorpions, unlike pawns, are not easy to block.
In Scorpion Chess, drawish endgames won't occur often. Unlike in
orthodox chess, a broken pawn chain is not a big defect while the
Scorpion pawn chain is not static. Castling could be dangerous if the
opponent has not yet castled, since the rook file can be opened by a
sideways moving Scorpion. A king that lingers in the centre can be
protected by sideways moving Scorpions. Two Scorpion pawns equal a
light piece. This contributes to the stability of the positions,
despite the increase in the tactical possibilities. A strategical
depth is retained, while new tactical themes are introduced. This game
has some very fine qualities.

My chess variants are free to use, also commercially.

Best Regards,

Mats Winther



To those who wonder how I arrived at the value 1.5 for the Scorpion.
Zillions has sophisticated algorithms for evaluating piece value. It has to
have this because there are so many different games. I have verified that
it
works fine because I have compared its evaluations with scientific methods
of evaluating pieces (there actually exists such mathematical methods), in
case of the Mammoth/Mastodon. Zillions changes the relative value of the
pieces also depending on board size etc.

Anyway, I have played several games and it seems like the Scorpion is half
the value of a light piece. This is important as it cannot move about as
freely
as one would expect. Sometimes the opponent can exchange a light piece
for two Scorpions.

But it is like you say, only practice will show how strong a Scorpion is.
Its effect
on the endgame is immense.

There is a relative of this, namely Berolina Chess. The Berolina Pawn was
invented by Edmund Habermann of Berlin in 1926 and since then has been
popular with puzzle composers. Even Emmanuel Lasker studied the pawn's
properties. Berolina Chess tournaments have been held, and it is still a
popular postal game in NOST and AISE.

But I have a problem comprehending the Berolina pawn. The Scorpion is much
easier to master (BTW, 'pion' actually means 'pawn' in Espanol).

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
Chess-B:
http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/chessb.htm

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