Bob Greenwade wrote on Thu, Feb 8, 2024 05:09 PM UTC:
205. Heart. I actually thought that I'd already featured this, and arguably I should've waited until next Wednesday... but now does seem like the time for this. Invented by Jeremy Good as part of his Cupid Chess 3 (where he calls it the Bottom Heart*), the Heart has a four-step move that vaguely traces out half the shape of a heart. It moves one or two steps diagonally; then, after the second, it may turn 90° to move one more step; then it may turn 90° again in the same direction to move one final step. ([F?fF?sF?qF])
This is a colorbound short-range piece, probably about as strong as a half-Bishop (B4) or a little less. (The Playtest Applet rates it as 332 vs. the B4's 320.)
*The article also gives a Bottom Heart, which has a nearly identical move path but starts at the other end; I find that piece much less useful and interesting than this one. Both pieces have appeared in many other games, and not just my own.
205. Heart. I actually thought that I'd already featured this, and arguably I should've waited until next Wednesday... but now does seem like the time for this. Invented by Jeremy Good as part of his Cupid Chess 3 (where he calls it the Bottom Heart*), the Heart has a four-step move that vaguely traces out half the shape of a heart. It moves one or two steps diagonally; then, after the second, it may turn 90° to move one more step; then it may turn 90° again in the same direction to move one final step. ([F?fF?sF?qF])
This is a colorbound short-range piece, probably about as strong as a half-Bishop (B4) or a little less. (The Playtest Applet rates it as 332 vs. the B4's 320.)
*The article also gives a Bottom Heart, which has a nearly identical move path but starts at the other end; I find that piece much less useful and interesting than this one. Both pieces have appeared in many other games, and not just my own.