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Chess20

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The initial array is randomized according to Placement Chess rules. In this variant the queen and king are relocated to produce a mirrored position. The resultant 20 possible setups are a subset of Chess960. They deviate marginally from the standard position and are all mirrored. Thus the general chessplayer would feel at home in any of these positions. Rules:

Before play begins, king and queen swap places with another piece except the rooks. Thus, if the king is swapped (relocated), the other piece (the relocatee) ends up on the king's square. If the queen is swapped, the relocatee ends up on the queen's square. One restriction is that the bishops mustn't end up on the same square colour. Note that the standard position can also occur. Note also that the king retains his castling rights even if it has been relocated. The castling rules derive from Fischer Random Chess. King and rook end up on the same squares as usual.

With these relocation rules the rooks remain in their natural positions, and the bishops are always positioned so that there is still a choice to develop them on either of the queen's or the king's wing. This maintains the strategical ambiguity of the initial position, while sound positions are produced where no definitive advantage can be obtained.

Note! Castling is done by dropping the king on the rook. This is to resolve ambiguites. (The players must themselves keep count of whether the king/rook have already been moved.) Moves are automated (point & click), but rules of check, etc., are ignored. At pawn promotion the player is asked about promotion piece.

Chess20 (Placement Random Chess)


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By M Winther.
Web page created: 2009-05-01. Web page last updated: 2009-05-01