Single Comment

In the Chess Cards variant, it seems that it is indeed possible to achieve the maximum score of 990 points. Suppose that player A is dealt bQ rQ rR rB yQ yR yB wB wN wP and player B is dealt bR bB bN bP rN rP yN yP wQ wR. First A plays two red cards, and B must counter with two red cards; then A plays two yellow cards and B must counter with two yellow cards; then if A plays the black Queen, having sacrificed the other five cards, B will be able to play five of his other cards but will be mated on the tenth move. B can never gain the initiative, so with best play by A the maximum mate score will necessarily ensue ... unless B sacrifices a card. Then again, any time that A plays his last card on move 5 and B is facing certain defeat, he can certainly sacrifice some cards so that the maximum score cannot be achieved. Still, my game above seems to come as close as possible to this result.