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H. G. Muller wrote on Mon, Oct 31, 2011 09:06 PM UTC:
I did some tablebases with Clobberers pieces. The FAD (single-letter ID I will use here = F) and BD (= X), despite their large general strength of course have no mating potential due to their color binding, and neither has WA (= W). So the interesting tablebases here are 3-1 and 3-2. Even KWWK is a win, comparatively easy with a maximum of 27 moves. In end-games the (2,2) jump of the FAD is hardly an asset, so that the BD,which can slide to (2,2), is practically upward compatible. So what works with 2F in general also works with F+X or 2X. (And usually a bit faster.) Of course nothing works with these combinations if they are on the same color; the lack of mating potential dooms you like it dooms K+N+N in ortho-chess. But on different color a pair of them is very dangerous, able to force checkmate without help of their King, driving the opponent to the edge through checks with their (2,0) moves. KFWK also wins easily (17 moves). So the 3-vs-1 tablebases are not the most interesting; every pair wins. To make it interesting black needs a defender. So I did a few 5-men (3 vs 2 and 2 vs 3).

K+X+X and K+X+F beat K+R, but K+F+F doesn't. K+F+F does easily beat K+B and K+N, though. (And thus K+X+F and K+X+X should also do that, although I did not check it). K+F+W beats K+N, but it only beats K+B when the FAD is on the B color. Most of the power comes from the FAD here, and if black can set up a defense on the other color it is draw. K+R also draws agains K+F+W. K+W+W is too weak to beat any defender, even against K+N it is draw.

The WA behaves as a regular minor, such as N. Normally an advantage of B or N in a Pawnless ending is not enough to win. (KRBKR, KRNKR, KQBKQ, KQNKQ are all draw, and also the 2-1 minor end-games KBN-KB, KBB-KB, KBN-KN. The only exception is KBB-KN, if we ignore the fact that the 50-move rule spoils most of the fun there.) I tried non-CDA end-games KQWKQ, KRWKR, and these are also draw, like KBNKW and of course KNNKW. But KBBKW (with unlike B,of course) is a win. The B-pair is strong in such situations, and the WA performs as a Knight (but K+W+W wins, where K+N+N draws). In Clobberers-only games, KFWKF, KXWKX and KAWKA are all draws.

As Betza promised, FAD is significantly stronger than B (and other minors), and this is also noticeable in the end-game. Where an extra minor is seldomly enough fora win, an extra FAD often is. KRFKR and KFFKF are wins, as is KFBKB when the F is on the color of the B (and white's B+F ondifferent colors, of course). With the B on the same color it is too difficult to attack the defending B without him immediately trading. (This is also why drawing KBBKB is easy for black, where KBBKN is hopeless). KFNKN is again a draw, though. So F is just at the border of making the difference.

That A (Archbishop) is slightly weaker than Q is seen in KQNKA and KQBKA: these are won, where a defending Q could draw. The BD and FAD are not as strong in defending as in attacking. KQKFF is won; KQKXF and KQKXX are not clear. (Many wins for the Q, but not nearly everything. K+R+B and K+R+N beat K+X and K+F. (But note that K+R could hold them off.) Problem is likely that adefending Rook can use the distant checking weapon, while with X or F a harrassed King simply steps to the other color, and you are out of options.

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