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The first solution to Problem # 2 arrived shortly after the problem was posted... but it is a wrong try. It reads, 'I haven't solved problem one yet, but in problem two, white can win by moving his crab to dimension [X] and checkmating with queen on h8.' Response: It is very important to remember that you win by capturing the enemy King... check mate has no meaning in this game. And you can't wait until your next turn to take his King because, as Black states in the problem, he will move his Crab to Dimension X and use his Cobra to win.' (by Spitting on your King no less, the ultimate chess insult). Best regards to all.
Jianying: Thanks for the very important question. Yes, normal chess pieces can capture Dimension X pieces [on the FIDE board], providing that the piece making the capture is not 'stuck' by an enemy Spider. I've just made this issue more clear in the rules. Thanks again. P.S. While in a D'X comment box, I'd like to congratulate Thomas J. McElmurry, Fergus Duniho, and Jianying Ji who have each sent in the correct solution to Problem #4, which is by far the most difficult of the set thus far. Well done.
Hi Christine: You ask how did it go with play testing? Answer: If you want we can play an unrated game so you can get an opinion based on your actual experience. Which is better than me just saying, 'Very good.' In return I will play one of your inventions (of your choosing). If you want. As for the cobra; It simply spits 1 or 2 spaces. It can never move on the FIDE board. Just onto it, or off of it. Also, please check out the problems in the rules. 1 and 2 aren't 2 hard and will give you a good idea of play. Thanks for the comment. Take care.
Thanks to a brief discussion with Fergus regarding Problem # 5 and the layout of the rules --- I have just given the rules page a rather thorough overhaul. Hopefully information is now presented in a much more user-friendly manner. Should anyone notice an omission in the new layout, please let me know. Note that the rules themselves have not changed... just the layout. On a different note: Problem 5 is apparently the most difficult to date. It has, however, been cracked by: Thomas J. McElmurry, Jianying Ji, and Fergus Duniho.
As stated earlier, I was to provide the names of successful problem solvers and the solutions to the 5 Dimension X problems.
Thomas J. McElmurry, Fergus Duniho, and Jianying Ji correctly solved all 5 problems. Jeremy Good worked on and solved problems 1 & 2. An outstanding job by each on cracking the challenges.
As for the solutions, Thomas J. McElmurry has provided relatively detailed analysis in a rather entertaining (fun to read) format. His analysis appears in the rules section, just after the last note.
Looking over the 5 problems and reading over the analysis should greatly enhance a player's understanding of game dynamics.
ahhhhhaaa well i trust your opinion you know :) .. have to decline game offer, not starting any new games at the moment, i was just interested to know how the 'spider' play-tested, if it slowed down the game, but looking more at the rules, and it finally sinking in, i like how the spider/crab/etc don't move on fide board, and how they go from fide board to x board. i see that dimension x is going well in score count for up-coming tourney, so i think we shall see this game play-tested well, i look forward to seeing the games. anyway, looks terrific to me, well done.
Hi Christine... thanks for the follow-up. Actually, Spiders can be the key to a crushing victory and speed a game up. They can also bring about a nice win of material by either (a) holding a piece captive while a pawn or other piece comes in to pick it off, or (b) allow the capture of a defended piece by immobilizing the defenders. In my current game with Jeremy, though I have the White pieces I did not obtain an opening advantage and I now have an enemy Spider very close to my King. I am busy trying to block landing points so his Trans-Dimensional Creatures don't appear on my Fide-board. Quite nerve racking, in a fun sort of way. Take care.
I have one question, which for some reason I didn't think about until now. The starting position on the FIDE board has the familiar mirror symmetry, while the Dimension X board has rotational symmetry. Thus the full starting position is asymmetric. Is there a reason for this? I would expect this asymmetry to introduce an imbalance (probably only a small one, since the trans-dimensional pieces need several moves to cross the board). It looks as though the white trans-dimensionals may find it easier to attack on the kingside, and the black ones on the queenside.
Tom, thanks for the comment and the interesting questions and insights. Also, thank you again for providing detailed analysis of the problem solutions. It is much appreciated. In regard to how well solving problems will translate into success on the board; I think that a person that can solve the problems (or at least understand the solutions when reading over them) will be much better prepared for similar themes when they occurr on the board. For one thing, they'll have seen some key concepts... not have to re-invent the wheel, so to speak. You also point out that 'the starting position on the FIDE board has the familiar mirror symmetry, while the Dimension X board has rotational symmetry. Thus the full starting position is asymmetric.' You ask, 'Is there a reason for this?' Answer: I kept the inital mental picture of the DX setup (a player's Spider at the first dark square to his right, etc.) Although I pictured this setup, I did think that some might think it to be a bit awkward; so I considered various factors: initial DX setup (asymmetrical), mobility, square blocking, centralization, Kingside and Queenside web balance, etc. And I could find nothing wrong with the DX setup. Nothing seemed to favor one side over the other. So, I went with that initial mental picture. P.S. In my current game with Jeremy Good, black (J.G) thus far has a positional advantage in that his Dimension X pieces have found their way to my King's doorstep in relatively short time (but at least they are still in Dimension X [last time I looked]. How did Black get an advantage? I've already written too much for this comment... so perhaps that will be discussed another time. P.S.S. I might make a few more problems, that is, if the problem solvers would like to have more DX problems.
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