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The Piececlopedia is intended as a scholarly reference concerning the history and naming conventions of pieces used in Chess variants. But it is not a set of standards concerning what you must call pieces in newly invented games.

Slip Rook

The Slip Rook is a piece that can move as a Rook, but only an odd number of squares. It alternatively can be thought of as a bent rider, consisting of a Wazir-step, and then a Dabbabah-rider. The piece is sometimes also referred to as a Panda, probably referring to its colorswitching move.

Historical Notes

According to the document Chess Simple Variants (by George Jelliss), this piece was first mentioned under the name of Panda by David Parlett, who described it as a rook that only can move to squares of the opposite color it stands on. It was used in a few problems in The Problemist in the 1970’s. Later, George Jelliss gave it the name of Slip Rook. Games it was used in:

Compounds were used in Sloppy Slippers (with Ferz), Commedia dell'Arte Chess (with Bishop and another one with Slip Bishop), and Seenschach (with Knight).

Value

On a standard board, it is valued to be somewhat less than 3 pawns.

Movement

The Slip Rook, which is depicted as a bear on g7, for example can continue to g8, and from there to g10 and then to g12. (but only if g8 and g10 are empty). The most used version of it can leap over unreachable squares, so it can continue that way even if there are pieces on g9 and g11.


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Author: Kelvin Voskuijl and Fergus Duniho. Inventor: David Parlett.

Last revised by Kelvin Voskuijl.


Web page created: 2025-04-12. Web page last updated: 2025-04-19

Revisions of MSslip-rook