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Hi, Kevin. Already lost a long comment and have been/will be busy over the next few days so let me answer briefly here , then when I have time, look at the board and push pieces. Grin, that's a lot easier than trying to visualize it in my head when I have a few quiet minutes. But the mental gymnastics gave me this much, using the 1111 - 4444 coordinate system: 

The current rules state a king is held when on a square with either the same first 2 digits or the same last 2 digits. (11xx - 44xx or xx11 - xx44)

The kings start with the second and fourth digits the same. (x3x2) This precludes using every 2D slice of the board, given the current set-up. Switching 1 K-Q pair's start squares would make all 4 digits different, allowing all 2D planes to be used, but that's a true headache. The easiest effective hold is just hold on big or little square - real easy to see.

That's what I got last night while falling asleep. It seemed to me then that your idea wouldn't work, but in the shower just now, I realized it could possibly work. You move your king onto a square with the same first digit - makes no real difference what the other 3 are for this purpose - to hold the opponent's king on 1 of the 4 3D rows of 2D levels. Trying to use the 4 3D columns this way - 2nd digit same - could really mess up the game, I think, since the kings start in the same column. And switching the K and Q for 1 side doesn't seem as satisfactory here, though it could work. In fact, except for the game starting with the kings restricted in movement, it would be okay. I don't like that, aesthetically, I guess. Doesn't mean it wouldn't work fine. I think you've just added a paragraph to the game write-up. This is certainly worth optional rule status.