Comments by Thor Slavensky
If you are considering to have pieces on the first rank with the rooks, there is also another option.
As long as it is not a major programming problem to add or subtract brouhaha squares, then you could consider having only 3 brouhaha's, moving EITHER the champions up to e1 and f1, OR the wizards up to somewhere on the first rank, could also be c1 and h1, for example. You will of course always have a asymmetrical set-up with the odd number of pieces, so with 1 pair of either wizards or champions, then you just have to decide if you want the joker 'king-side' or 'queen-side' on the 3 brouhaha squares.
I agree with all the insightful thoughts of H.G.Muller, and I think ELVEN CHESS looks very nice, and it does not have that 'odd look' at all, probably in Aurelian's new set up it was because of the 4 brouhaha squares below the 'lonely King'.
I'm sorry, I had not looked at your set-up with 5 brouhaha squares with the Joker in the middle. I have now. And it looks great. So forget my latest mainly nonsensical comment. I don't quite understand about the pieces you want to twist symmetrically, and the link doesn't seem to work. But if you want even more game testing, you are very welcome to send me an invitation (ID: Slavensky) for the 5 brouhaha square set-ups with or without twisted symmetry (if you have the time with all the testing of your new Grand Apothecary series).
Hi Aurelian, I really like to try out the new set-up, as I said it looks like very 'game-logical' with the Joker in the middle and the auxillary pieces nicely spread around it.. But I cannot open the invitation, I can't find the accept buttom, it just says, that it's your turn to move. Would you try again, or should I send an invitation to you ?
Great analysis and a fantastic answer to my question. Cetran Chess 3 is a fun game with a lot of strong pieces, and the 12x8 format really makes a challenge, balancing between developing the pieces and protecting the King. It's 'game on' right from the start!
I was asking Carlos, if he had enough compensation from his Queen sacrifice, if Black played 25. ... K l8xl7 26. P k4-k5 (check), K l7-l6 (Alternative 5 in the analysis). However in my inexperience with the Sissa, in my own simple analysis I had moved 27. S j4-k4 (check). The right move here was of course 27. S j4-i3 ! That activates the long-ranging abilities of this interesting piece, which now has control (if unblocked) of the square l7. This forces Black into the last variations in Carlos' analysis, and Black's position is terrible.
Maybe if you could be so smart as to find Carlos' variation where Black is giving the Griffin up for the white Queen (last illustration) there possibly would be something to continue with, but with the 'heavy artillery' (Amazon and Griffin) being involved in the next couple of moves and Black's extremely weak king-position, I now totally understand and sympathize with Black resigning the game here!
Arktur. Two kings and randomized setup. (8x8, Cells: 64) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]I guess that will lose the queen: 8. Qa5+, Qa6 9. Bxa6
Chess 66. Board based on the 8x8 arrangement - with the difference that 66 fields are now available. (8x8, Cells: 66) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]This is a great idea with those switches. Together with the twisting of the files it makes a very interesting board and game. The switches give instantly the game a dynamic tension which is enjoyable. And a very sophisticated solution that 2 squares together constitute 1 field on which there can only be 1 piece. There is no mentioning of pawn move/capture (maybe it could be helpful), but it must be implied that 'normal' forward movement and diagonal capturing are in place, that will often be first 'battle' around the switches.
What is better than 2 switches? That has to be 4 switches! The inventor, Gerd Degens, has also such a game, Chess69, which can be viewed through the link at the top, or for CVP members through the link in the comments. I will try to make a comment about it later. But I can only recommend to the editors that this game also is published properly. It is even more interesting because here the ranks are also twisted, very delightful for us fans of 'unusually shaped boards'. It already has a old post from 2003 here on CVP with a broken link in the Alphabetical Index and the Topic Index, so that will have to be displaced.
Chess 69. Private Missing description (8x8, Cells: 69) [All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]Since this comment is for a page that has not been published yet, you must be signed in to read it.
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Hey Aurelian, as I have said before, I have the deepest respect for all the work you are putting into the programming of this very nice game of yours.
In the games we recently played, it was an interesting tactical feature in the opening game that you had to free up the best possible square for the drop of the Joker within 8-12 moves, but the rest game had so much to offer, that you definitely can live without that feature..
The new starting set-up of the board looks a little odd to me. I think I would prefer the King back on rank 2 and 9. Then maybe the Joker can be placed on a brouhaha square (either an extra square or instead of a Champion). That would give some of the same tactical considerations as in the original game, as to when and how you should 'enter the board' mimicking with the Joker.
But most of all I have to agree with the (deciding ?!) point on your pro and con-list.: EASIER programming.
Btw, have you seen the piece description of the game JESTER CHESS ? There is a very clear and understandable definition of that game's Joker/Fool/Jester. It's a weaker (and more boring, IMO) Joker (not having full capturing ability), but it has some good points about mimicking a promoting pawn or a king..
Best wishes, Thor.