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Keeps and Moats Chess: A four-player chess variant A game information page

. A four player chess variant.[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]

💡Matt Worden wrote on Fri, Feb 14, 2003 04:05 PM UTC:

Looking for feedback on my 'Keeps & Moats Chess' design and implementation
... I'll even resort to a little bribery:  I'll offer a *free
full-version* copy of the game to whoever first provides something
constructive. ;-)

I've just recently finished the computer version of the game and was
curious for any feedback from people who play and know chess variants
well.  So far most of the traffic and feedback for the game has been from
other game programming hobbyists and from general abstract and strategy
gamers who happened upon my site.

Anybody here try it?  If so, what are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance ... :-D

-Matt Worden
www.mwgames.com

Tim Stiles wrote on Fri, Feb 14, 2003 09:45 PM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★

I saw the AI sacrifice it's queen without getting one in return. Also,
because of the shape of the board, bishop plus king can capture a
king(rook plus king would only stalemate if the checkmate rule wasn't
abolished in favour of the capture king rule). Promotion also seems very
hard(although the idea used was nice), and knights have reduced value as
they can't reach most of the board in a few turns, unlike all the sliding
pieces.

Its a pretty good variant, I'll tell you that.

💡Matt Worden wrote on Sat, Feb 15, 2003 05:16 AM UTC:

Thanks for the feedback, Tim ... you make very accurate points. ;-)

>>I saw the AI sacrifice it's queen without getting one in 
>>return.

There still remains a rare case where the AI will do that, but I can't
seem to pin-point under what conditions it is.  I've gone over the code a
couple dozen times and cannot find where it should logically come to that
choice, but I've seen it do that too.

>>Also, because of the shape of the board, bishop plus king
>>can capture a king(rook plus king would only stalemate if 
>>the checkmate rule wasn't abolished in favour of the 
>>capture king rule).

Exactly ... once your bishops/queen are gone the end-game can become a
bore (which is why the 'Lack of Materials Rule' was created).

>>Promotion also seems very hard(although the idea used was nice)

It's easier to get your near-side Pawns into the Keep of a neighboring
enemy ... especially if he/she has other things to worry about.  But it's
not very easy overall.  Pawns generally become defensive pieces only. 

>>and knights have reduced value as they can't reach most
>> of the board in a few turns, unlike all the sliding pieces.

True.  They too are primarily used to keep the homefront safe.  Even my
'quick opening bishop killer' move takes 4 moves using a Knight ...

>>Its a pretty good variant, I'll tell you that.

I truly appreciate your comments.  Please send me your e-mail address if
you'd like your free fully-registered version of the game. :-D

-Matt

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