Single Comment

<blockquote><i> It has two full atoms, half of another, and a quarter of another; this puts it already in the Rookish range, though maybe a bit weak. The partial atoms are the forward parts, which must boost it to full Rookitude. </i></blockquote> Well, as I count it, it has two full atoms, and the quarter of <em>two</em> others. Now, I am certainly willing to accept that 0.5 of the value of the W is due to its forward move, but what I am less convinced of, I guess, is whether the W forward move by itself <strong>adds</strong> that much to of the value of the W to another piece that already has forward moves. It's at least an interesting question, I think. <p> If the Elephant is 0.75 N, and the Great Elephant is 1.5 N, then the White Elephants are about 0.5 N too strong (the exact amount depending on your opinion of the relative values of the N and B). If that's the case, maybe the Queen should be replaced by the War Elephant, Rook + Alfil Rider (RAA) -- this should be about the proper balance, since a Rook + Alfil would be a full 0.5 N weaker than a Queen, but since the Great Elephants are a tiny bit weaker than Rooks, maybe, and there's the Bishop differential, the extra strength of the AA over the A ought to just balance things. <p> <hr> Captain Spalding Chess!? -- Marxist!