Kevin Pacey wrote on Tue, Nov 14, 2017 09:46 PM UTC:
Note to self:
After I slept on it, I'm thinking my 10x8 Phoenix Chess variant idea quite possibly has a significant defect, even with my latest setup, and no matter what castling rules are used (I added yet another option for such rules to think about, by an edit to my post with the latest setup diagrammed). The problem is that either side (perhaps Black will be more prone to disadvantage in this regard) could well have serious problems developing one or both of their phoenix' without sooner or later making some sort of significant concession, especially depending on the play of the opponent. Perhaps an exception would be if some or all of the phoenix' are developed rapidly at the beginning of a game, but this might not make for much variety in the opening phase (plus the Ns or phoenix' might then be best deployed to the b or i-file(s), due to e.g. enemy diagonal sliders, which might be seen as an ugly sort of concession, even if the opponent does the same). In light of this, I'm thinking maybe the original setup also has its points by comparison (e.g. if in that seup a N goes to the centre on the third rank and afterwards its adjacent phoenix takes a side-step, followed by making a second [and authentically] developing move).
Note to self:
After I slept on it, I'm thinking my 10x8 Phoenix Chess variant idea quite possibly has a significant defect, even with my latest setup, and no matter what castling rules are used (I added yet another option for such rules to think about, by an edit to my post with the latest setup diagrammed). The problem is that either side (perhaps Black will be more prone to disadvantage in this regard) could well have serious problems developing one or both of their phoenix' without sooner or later making some sort of significant concession, especially depending on the play of the opponent. Perhaps an exception would be if some or all of the phoenix' are developed rapidly at the beginning of a game, but this might not make for much variety in the opening phase (plus the Ns or phoenix' might then be best deployed to the b or i-file(s), due to e.g. enemy diagonal sliders, which might be seen as an ugly sort of concession, even if the opponent does the same). In light of this, I'm thinking maybe the original setup also has its points by comparison (e.g. if in that seup a N goes to the centre on the third rank and afterwards its adjacent phoenix takes a side-step, followed by making a second [and authentically] developing move).