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Kevin Pacey wrote on Tue, Mar 13, 2018 12:59 AM UTC:

I've added edits to my last post in this thread, mentioning credit to Aurelian for a point, plus mentioning new diagrams (& estimated values) given with FN pieces involved, for in my 12x10 and 10x10 variant ideas [edit: I've since rejected any 10x10 version of WAD Chess I've come up with, regardless], that are added with edits to another relatively recent previous post (4 days ago) in this thread. [edit: after looking at the near-exact values for the WADs, Bs, Ns and FNs for both variant ideas possible setups, I've concluded these pieces from the point of view of comparing the highest to lowest will be considerably closer in value in the case if Ns are used rather than FNs for 10x10 WAD Chess, but for 12x10 Wide Nightrider Chess, if Ns are used instead of FNs then the range from highest to lowest piece is very slightly larger than if FNs are used instead of Ns, so using FNs for this particular 12x10 variant idea is slightly preferable from this point of view alone.]

[edit: SOHO Chess variant idea of mine to study; K castles by moving 3 squares sideways (otherwise as in FIDE) - the name comes from its being influenced by Shako, Omega Chess, Hannibal Chess and Opulent Chess, each to varying degrees:]

I'd estimate the piece vales for this 10x10 idea (at least in the endgame) as: P=1; C=2.75; N=3; B=3.5; FAD=CH=WZ=3.75; R=5.5; Q=R+B+P=10; K's fighting value=2.5 approx. [edit: I think I'll reject this variant idea, if only due to the setup, as the rook's pawns may be too tender if both sides castle on the same side, if cannon(s) and B(s) still hit said pawns]

[edit2: Backup setup for SOHO Chess - maybe variant idea just fine with this setup:]

[edit: Parity Chess variant idea of mine to study; officially K castles by moving 4 squares sideways (otherwise as in FIDE), though players by agreement can use other castling rules - the name comes the fact that 2/3 of the pieces are close in value by my estimations, aside from pawns; the setup has a lot of resemblence to the one for the historic variant Courier-Spiel, IMO:]

I'd estimate the values for this 12x8 idea as: P=1; N=3.06(or 3 approx.); B=3.75; FAD=CH=3.86(or 3.75 approx.); R=5.5; Q=R+B+P=10.25; K's fighting value=2.67. [edit: I think I'll reject this variant idea if only due to the setup, as the c- and j-pawns may prove tender enough as to restrict the ways the players can deploy their pawns and pieces. edit2: this 'defect' doesn't seem so terrible, in hindsight (which also suggests Wide Chess-style castling rules would seem to be a better way to go).]

[edit: "Chess 1210" variant idea of mine for study; rules same as for Parity Chess, except rules for pawn movement as in Omega Chess - this spinoff variant has the benefit that bishops might well be slightly easier to develop than might often be the case in Parity (there a pawn a B defends in the setup can soon be hit by an opponent's unmoved B), though 1210 has a lower pieces to empty cells ratio in the setup (plus also less parity among a number of the piece types' values, on 12x10), and pawns take slightly longer to reach the last rank:]

I'd estimate the values for this 12x10 idea as P=1; N=2.83(or 2.75 approx.); FAD=CH=3.48(or 3.5 approx.); B=3.75; R=5.5; Q=R+B+P=10.25; K's fighting value=2.13(or 2.1 approx.). [edit: I think I'll reject this 12x10 variant idea, as knights a bit weak on 12x10, plus setup may still not be ideal, and it's similar to 12x8 Parity Chess but with more disadvantages]

[edit: Wide SOHO Chess variant idea of mine to study; no castling allowed:]

I'd estimate the values for this 12x10 idea (at least in the endgame) as: P=1; C=2.75; N=2.83(or 2.75 approx.); FAD=CH=3.48(or 3.5 approx.); WZ=3.56(or 3.5 approx.); B=3.75; R=5.5; A=B+N+P=7.58(or 7.5 approx.); M=R+N+P=9.33(or 9.25 approx.); Q=R+B+P=10.25; K's fighting value=2.13(or 2.1 approx.). [edit: I think I'll reject this 12x10 variant idea, as lots of pieces per army (36), castling impossible, R placement in setup not attractive, and Ns a bit weak on 12x10]

Note that for all 4 of these variant ideas, the Champion piece type (also known as a WAD) can force mate with the assistance of just the king vs. a lone K, thanks to the given variants' board sizes. Also for all these variant ideas, IMHO a B or C is worth at least a CH, FAD or WZ before the endgame phase, with a C being worth a B before said phase.

[edit3: Backup Wide SOHO Chess setup - variant idea seems not too bad with this; can use Capablanca Chess-style castling rules:]

Champion:

FAD:

Wizard:

Cannon:

Archbishop:

Marshall:


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