Hit and Run Chess
Background – in the 80’s myself and a good friend (Galth Ractus) decided to take Chess and make it more challenging, yet still easy to remember. We decided (after much play-testing) that if we upped the number of moves you can make each turn in the game dramatically different. After working out a few problems we came up with what was dubbed Rune Chess, as I was running a BBS on my C64 dedicated to gaming called Runestone BBS. Over the years I have honed the rules and determined that playing Pirate Chess adds a whole new dimension to chess. I’m not sure if it makes your chess game any better, but it sure makes you think at right angles.Rules
Hit and Run Chess is played with a normal chess set with normal pieces placement and movement.
The big difference is the combination of pieces and moves you can make after the 1st turn.
- The 1st turn for each side is always played by standard chess rules; one move on each side.
- From there on both sides have the option of moving 1 piece twice or 2 pieces once.
The complete rules and stipulations follow:
- All turns after the first must consist of 2 moves on each side, in the following combinations.
- 2 pieces: Both move once.
- 1 piece: Moves twice.
- You cannot voluntarily move once, but if you cannot legally take a second move with any piece (say the king would be put in check) your second move is forfeited.
- All captures, if they are made, must occur on any pieces first move.
- No single piece may ever capture on its second move.
- When moving 2 pieces both may capture.
- If a piece moves after capturing, it may not move along the same:
- Column ( i.e. castle, king, or queen )
- Row ( i.e. castle, king, or queen )
- or Diagonal ( i.e. bishop, king or queen )
- nor return to the same square from which the capturing piece started (i.e. a knight, but, as a rule, not limited to just Knights.).
- Pawns can only go forward.
- If a piece moves after capturing, it may not move along the same:
- If the king is in check, the first move must always resolve the threat. *
- If a king is put in check on the first move, you may still take your second move with another piece, if applicable.
- All other basic chess rules apply.
- Capturing en passé is allowed unless the pawn is given a second move. **
It’s really simple, especially if you already know how to play chess.
Variations: (No matter the variation, no Kings may be captured without Check. If no Check was called, no King may be captured.)
- * Simultaneous Chess – Simply means that the results for both moves each player take are considered simultaneously. Meaning you may move the king further to get out of check, or another piece may make two moves to block.
- So long as both moves take place at the same time, the first move does not have to remove the check.
This usually results in much longer games, more pieces are required to pin the king, and although the King is the piece this version most affects, it may have some situational benefits across the board.
- ** Passé, en passé – rather than simply allowing normal capturing en passé, it may be allowed even if the pawn takes a second move, especially if it moves to a position similar to normal capturing en passé.
Notes
Also Known as Pirate Chess Also Known as RuneChess
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By Stephen Howell.
Last revised by Stephen Howell.
Web page created: 2020-07-31. Web page last updated: 2020-07-31