H. G. Muller wrote on Mon, Apr 17, 2023 07:43 AM UTC:
Only now I notice that in the 14x14 setup white can threaten mate on the first move: 1. i5 ... 2. BAn9#. But this can be easily thwarted by 1... m10. Even if white would manage to back up the Bat by an Eagle (the only other flying piece that can move on the white diagonal), pushing up l11 would provide a second (X-ray) defender of n9 in the Archbishop. Both these 'forced' Pawn moves would be healthy development moves, liberating the Bishop and Dragon Horse. So nothing would be gained by white in pursuing this.
The players would have to be careful not to push their m-Pawn more than a single step, however; this would leave them with little defense against the BAn9/n6 threat. (The Archbishop alone is not sufficent defense, as it is worth more than a Bat, and the Bat would arrive on n6/n9 protected by the Terror.) At least until the l-Pawn gets pushed. After that DHl11 (l6) would provide an alternative defense.
So I don't think this is a problem. It just shows that the presence of the flying sliders keeps the players on edge, even early in the game when the King is still deeply buried. Which was exactly the point for including them. I suppose this is the equivalent of fool's mate in orthodox Chess, where the players have to mind the weakness of f2/f7.
Only now I notice that in the 14x14 setup white can threaten mate on the first move: 1. i5 ... 2. BAn9#. But this can be easily thwarted by 1... m10. Even if white would manage to back up the Bat by an Eagle (the only other flying piece that can move on the white diagonal), pushing up l11 would provide a second (X-ray) defender of n9 in the Archbishop. Both these 'forced' Pawn moves would be healthy development moves, liberating the Bishop and Dragon Horse. So nothing would be gained by white in pursuing this.
The players would have to be careful not to push their m-Pawn more than a single step, however; this would leave them with little defense against the BAn9/n6 threat. (The Archbishop alone is not sufficent defense, as it is worth more than a Bat, and the Bat would arrive on n6/n9 protected by the Terror.) At least until the l-Pawn gets pushed. After that DHl11 (l6) would provide an alternative defense.
So I don't think this is a problem. It just shows that the presence of the flying sliders keeps the players on edge, even early in the game when the King is still deeply buried. Which was exactly the point for including them. I suppose this is the equivalent of fool's mate in orthodox Chess, where the players have to mind the weakness of f2/f7.