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Experiments in Symmetry. Several experimental games to test whether perfect symmetry makes a game better.[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]

Derek Nalls wrote on Thu, Jun 28, 2007 06:17 AM UTC:

The variants of Mirror East Chess with royal wazirs just bit the dust due to undefended pawns on the c-file & h-file.  This leaves only variants of Mirror East Chess with royal ferzes being stable.  

[Mirror West Chess has no such limitations.]

R-N-B-F-Q-Q-F-B-N-R

the first rank of white
(black is symmetrical to it)

Note:  F = ferz (royal)

I will submit Mirror East Chess to the ZOG web site soon.

Derek Nalls wrote on Sat, Jun 30, 2007 04:38 AM UTC:

The Games Of OmegaMan
http://www.symmetryperfect.com/shots/omegaman

Push the 'Download Now' button.

11 Games

Optimized Chess 8H X 10W
Embassy Chess 8H X 10W
Sym Chancellor Chess 8H X 12W
Sym Archbishop Chess 8H X 12W
Chancellor Chess 8H X 10W
Archbishop Chess 8H X 10W
Non-Standard Chess 8H X 8W
Mirror West Chess 8H X 10W
Mirror East Chess 8H X 10W
Sym Chess 8H X 10W
Bishop Pairs Chess 8H X 12W

The latest-version ZOG implementations of all of these games will always be available here.

Derek Nalls wrote on Sat, Jun 30, 2007 05:34 AM UTC:

After over 2 years, I think the 'experiments' are ready to begin.  Who knows if conclusive, objective (rather than opinionated, subjective) results will ever be obtained.

Please do not get confused by all of the variants I have stacked-on in an attempt to improve the basic games?  The default, first-loaded variants are all that are needed.  Specifically, out of the 8 game rules files (*.zrf) by OmegaMan, you need to use only 3:

Non-Standard Chess | No Self-Captures  (non-no.zrf)
Mirror West Chess | No Self-Captures  (mirror-w-no.zrf)
Mirror East Chess | No Self-Captures  (mirror-e-no.zrf)

If you are one of the few chess variant hobbyists who has not already played standard Chess to the point of exhaustion, first try-out the
'Non-Standard Chess | No Self-Captures | Mirror I | 2-Step Pawns | WB' variant.  Essentially, it is very similar to but not identical to standard Chess.  The differences will not harm you.  Still, you may use a bonafide standard Chess program available elsewhere if you prefer.  This is the singular asymmetrical game for comparison.

There are two symmetrical games available for comparison.  Play either or preferably both
'Mirror West Chess | No Self-Captures | 2-Step Pawns | WB' variant and
'Mirror East Chess | No Self-Captures | 2-Step Pawns | WB' variant.

Please let everyone know whether you preferred the experience of playing the asymmetrical game or the symmetrical game(s)?  [Yes, you will become famous.]

Admittedly, this rings more like an 'experiment in democracy' (which scares me) than a 'scientific experiment' but your ideas and observations interest me.

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