Enter Your Reply The Comment You're Replying To H. G. Muller wrote on Sat, Apr 18, 2009 10:20 AM UTC:OK, I started some tests of the Lama pieces. As they are regular Chess pieces that fit in the Betza classification scheme, Fairy-Max can handle them without modification. Both Lama and Alpaca are handicapped versions of the Woody Rook (Betza WD). I tested this Woody Rook in the context of Great Shatranj, and IIRC it tested as slightly less than a Knight. From my current understanding of short-range leaper values, WD should have been one of the weakest of all 8-target leapers, due to the small number of forward moves. And forward moves seem to contribute about twice as much to the overall value as backward or sideway moves. But I guess the global property of having mating potenial is worth some extra bonus. The Lama and Alpaca should be practicaly equal in value; moves of 1 step seem to contribute to the value of a piece about as much as moves of 2 steps in the same direction. If I would have to do a prediction, I woud use the formula Value = (30+5/8*N)*N, which would put 8-target SR leapers at 280 (centi-Pawn). I would count non-capture moves in the second factor N only for 1/3, though, so that we would get 35*16/3 = 187 cP. For rider-like pieces like the Guanaco I have no theory yet. I started tests by replacing the Knights of one side by Lamas, to see how badly they are beaten. I will then probably switch to replacing two Knights by 3 Lamas. On the other core of my C2D I am playing a substitution of 2 Bishops by 2 Guanacos. I will keep you posted. (I cannot promise I will be able to complete all necessary tests shortly, As I might need the computer to test my Xiangqi engine HaQiKi D, which I entered in the World Championship in Pamplona, taking place early May. And I still have a lot to improve on that before I will have any chance on winning there...) Edit Form You may not post a new comment, because ItemID MatsNewPieces does not match any item.