Check out Makruk (Thai Chess), our featured variant for March, 2025.

This page is written by the game's inventor, Dominique Leste.

General Chess 

and Arch-General Chess

By Dominique Leste


Board
General Setup
Arch-General Setup
Pieces
Rules
Notes
Credits

Board

Both games use a 10x8 board.

Setup for General

satellite=gen files=10 ranks=8 promoZone=1 maxPromote=1 promoChoice=GQRBN graphicsDir=/graphics.dir/alfaeriePNG/ squareSize=50 graphicsType=png theme=SV borders=0 firstRank=1 useMarkers=1 newClick=1 symmetry=mirror pawn::::a2-j2 knight:N:::b1,i1 bishop::::c1,h1 rook::::a1,j1 queen::::e1 general::QN:amazon:d1,g1 king::KisO3::f1

Starting position - Rook, Knight, Bishop, General, Queen, King, General , Bishop, Knight, Rook.

 

Setup for Arch-General

satellite=arch files=10 ranks=8 promoZone=1 maxPromote=1 promoChoice=GQARBN graphicsDir=/graphics.dir/alfaeriePNG/ squareSize=50 graphicsType=png theme=SV borders=0 firstRank=1 useMarkers=1 newClick=1 symmetry=mirror pawn::::a2-j2 knight:N:::b1,i1 bishop::::c1,h1 rook::::a1,j1 archbishop:::cardinal:d1 queen::::e1 general::QN:amazon:g1 king::KisO3::f1

Starting position - Rook, Knight, Bishop, Archbishop, Queen, King, General , Bishop, Knight, Rook.

Pieces


General - moves like Queen or a Knight

Archbishop - moves either as a Bishop or a Knight.

Pawns promote to General, Queen, Archbishop, Rook, Bishop or Knight.

Rules

When castling 0-0, the King moves to I1; when castling 0-0-0, the King moves to C1.

Both games follow the rules of international chess, except as otherwise noted.

Notes

General is a variation of the Bird's Chess position with the Archbishop and Chancellor being replaced by a a pair of Generals. Just like my Archbishop Chess variant the King is well protected and strong pieces control the centre.

Arch-General is a variation of the bird position with the Archbishop and Chancellor being replaced by an Archbishop and General. The King is once again well protected like Fort Knox.

Credits