Rules for Flip Chess

1. Non-King pieces may flip over at the close of their moves (or as a move in itself) and become their alternate-side piece.
2. Pawns promote to Princes on the last rank.
3. A bare King loses.

Rules for Flip Shogi

(Rules 1 through 3 are the same as for Flip Chess, above.)

4. Captured pieces may be dropped (placed) onto the board to be used as one's own.
5. Dropping a captured piece onto the board will count as a move.
6. Pieces may drop with either side up.
7. Pieces may drop only to attack another piece.
8. Pawn drops are limited to the first two ranks.

Comments

Flip Chess/Shogi was created as an entry in Hans Bodlaender's 38-challenge, which requires a 38-square chess board. The rationale for employing flip pieces is to compensate for the piece-variety limitations of this small surface.

Flip Chess is a short game that requires ritualized openings. One drawback to the game is that it is difficult to recover from losing a major piece. Flip Shogi does not suffer from this weakness, as reversals of fortune are quite common. It is for this reason that I prefer Flip Shogi to Flip Chess. It is a good idea, however, to begin with Flip Chess, as it is simpler and easier to learn. Yet after experiencing the excitement of Flip Shogi, it is unlikely that a player will prefer the simpler game of Flip Chess.

Below, are patterns for creating a set of pieces for these games.

Flip Chess/Shogi was created by John William Brown, author of the book Meta-Chess. Thomas E. Havel served as chess partner and collaborator on the project.