![]() | King
A King can move to any adjacent square, but never to a square where it can be captured. |
![]() | Councelor
A Councelor moves one square diagonally. |
![]() | Chariot
A Chariot moves any number of squares orthogonally on a rank or a file. It may not leap over other pieces. |
![]() | Knight
A Knight moves like an `L`, two squares vertically plus one horizontally, or two squares horizontally plus one vertically. It hops over any pieces on the way. |
![]() | Elephant
Jumps diagonally two squares. |
![]() | Pawn
A Pawn can move straight ahead one square. A Pawn captures by moving one square diagonally. If a Pawn reaches the farthest rank it may promote, changing into the piece that started the game on this rank. |
DescriptionThe game is played on an uncheckered board of eight by eight squares. Each player starts the game with eight Pawns, two Chariots (or Rooks), two Knights, two Elephants, a Councelor, and a King. The opening setup is the same as normal chess (with Elephants on the spots of Bishops, and Councelors on the spot of Queens). The game is played with on both sides Councelor and King transposed, so that in all cases King and Councelor are on the same vertical line. The King moves as the usual King, but additionally has the right to make one Knight-move during the game. Castling doesn't exist. Note that in the starting setup the Kings do not face each other. The Councelor moves one square diagonally. The Elephant moves two squares diagonally, but may jump the intervening square. The Knight moves as the usual Knight. The Rook or Chariot moves as the usual Rook. The Pawn or Soldier moves and takes as the usual Pawn, but may not make a double step on the first move. Pawns promote when they arrive at the last rank of the board, but only to the type of piece that was on the promotion-square in the opening setup. Object of the game is to checkmate the opponent's King. The player that stalemates their opponent loses the game.HistoryScientists generally assume that Chaturanga, played in India in or before the 7th century after Christ, is the oldest form of chess.StrategyTBD.More information on Chaturanga can be found at http://www.chessvariants.com/historic.dir/chaturanga.html. |