Bob Greenwade wrote on Tue, Mar 26, 2024 02:58 PM UTC:
252. Zabel Pawn. This piece, generally seen only in fairy chess problems, moves like an orthodox Pawn, except that instead of an optional two-step move at the beginning, it has an optional two-step move at the end -- that is, to enter the promotion zone. (fmWfcFfafafoabW)
(My thanks to Daniel Zacharias for working out the XBetza code for me!)
This could make for some interesting dynamics in a game, especially if one adds Mecklenbeck (promotion at the Pawns' row) or other special properties.
While the piece is named after Erik Zabel, a cycling sprinter, it didn't seem practical to use a bicycle on a chess piece. Tinkercad has a pre-made shoe figure, so I decided to run with that (pardon the pun).
252. Zabel Pawn. This piece, generally seen only in fairy chess problems, moves like an orthodox Pawn, except that instead of an optional two-step move at the beginning, it has an optional two-step move at the end -- that is, to enter the promotion zone. (fmWfcFfafafoabW)
(My thanks to Daniel Zacharias for working out the XBetza code for me!)
This could make for some interesting dynamics in a game, especially if one adds Mecklenbeck (promotion at the Pawns' row) or other special properties.
While the piece is named after Erik Zabel, a cycling sprinter, it didn't seem practical to use a bicycle on a chess piece. Tinkercad has a pre-made shoe figure, so I decided to run with that (pardon the pun).