Musketeer Chess

Musketeer Chess is a modern chess variant. It respects the basic rules of chess, using a classic chess board along with a classic chess set. However, two additional pieces are added as "reserve pieces". These pieces will enter the game progressively after one of the 1st or 8th rank pieces moves for the first time. Black is the last one to choose the location of the pieces in reserve, which will help him make a strategy to counter white's strategy. This feature can diminish white’s advantage, as the side beginning the game. Adding the new pieces creates ideal conditions for new tactics and strategies. The games are usually shorter, much more spectacular. Creativity regains its place with no more opening learning, eventhough some strategies can be prepared. It's the victory of the Brain over "matter" (theory in chess), eventhough we are using "new material" represented by 2 additional new fairy pieces. The new pieces has a unique design, making their identification easy. They are commercial and Staunton compatible, fitting with the majority of Tournament Chess sets.

Setup

Initial placement of the pieces:

Musketeer Chess begins like Orthodox Chess, by placing all the classic chess pieces on the 8x8 Board.

First, white must choose one new piece among the 10 new pieces. Black has 10 seconds to disagree with white’s choice. If black accepts white’s choice, he must then pick up the same black colored piece. After 10 seconds without answer, black is supposed to have accepted white’s choice.

It’s now black’s turn to choose one of the pieces from the remaining 9 pieces. He has ten seconds to make his choice.

If not, the default choice must be the Leopard (or Cannon if Leopard has already been chosen).

White must then pick up the same piece. If no agreement is reached on the choice of the first new playing piece, then the default choice must be Cannon and Leopard. After the two new pieces are defined, both white and black will place their new piece respectively on the zero and ninth line. Each new piece is placed behind one classic chess piece.

It’s strictly forbidden for players to place the new pieces both behind the King and the Rook at the same time (this hampers from introducing at the same time both new pieces when castling).

The new pieces are introduced on the board respectively when the piece in front of them moves for the first time. For example: white will place his Leopard on square d0 (behind the white Queen). His Leopard will be placed on the board when the white Queen first moves away. However, if the White Queen is captured before making its first move, then white forfeits their right in introducing the new man. If the new man is placed behind the King, and the king moves because he is checked, then the right to introduce the new men is also forfeited. If the new man is put behind the King, then it is introduced when castling. The same is true when the additional man is put behind a Rook. However, it is forbidden to put the two extra new men behind a King and a Rook at the same time, preventing the introduction of the two new men at the same time when castling. If a Fortress is put behind black’s King (e9). If the Black king castles, the Fortress will be placed on the e8 square.

PGN Notation: For short castle: 0-0 (Fo-e8). If black’s king is in check and the black king moves without capturing the piece that checks, black forfeits his right to introduce the Fortress, etc. When promoting, a pawn can be promoted into any of the Classic Chess pieces (except the King) and equally into any of the new men that was part of the game. For example, the game began with Cannon and Unicorn. If a pawn is promoted, it cannot be promoted to a Leopard, but it can be promoted to a Cannon or a Unicorn. If a second pawn is promoted, it can be promoted to a Cannon or Unicorn again (we can then see 2 Cannons or more for the side that promoted etc).

NB: The default piece combination in case of no agreement between the players, can be changed from the current default (Leopard & Cannon) by a tournament director or tournament organisers to fit the tournament needs. The combination of the additional pieces can also be predefined by the Tournament Director (to make thematic tournaments). Note that for example Leopard + Elephant or Elephant + Leopard isn't really the same variant, as in Musketeer Chess the placement of the pieces is subject to the rank of piece choice: if you choose the Leopard first and the Elephant second you have to place Leopard first and Elephant second, and vice versa.

Pieces

Classic Chess Set and board.

We add two new extra pieces both sides agree on the pieces to add from: Cannon, Leopard, Archbishop, Chancellor, Elephant, Hawk, Unicorn, Dragon, Fortress and Spider.

Piece rules:

 

Leopard : Similar to the Knight, it is classified as a leaper. It can move by jumping like a Knight or slide like a Bishop diagonally in an unobstructed path. When sliding diagonally, the Leopard moves only by one or two squares in any direction.

Leopard is worth 670 when a pawn is worth 100.

 

 

Cannon: The Cannon is classified as a leaper. It can leap two squares orthogonally in any direction. But it can also leap like the Knight, only moving 1 square forward then 2 squares horizontally. The Cannon can also move like the King, one square in any direction.

Cannon is worth 750 when a pawn is worth 100.

 

Unicorn: The unicorn is a pure Leaper. It can move like the knight (1+2 or 2+1), but it can also “jump” like an extended knight (1+3 or 3+1). It controls 16 squares.

Unicorn is worth 560 when a pawn is worth 100.

Dragon also Called Amazone: The Dragon can move like a Queen and a Knight. It can checkmate without any help.

Dragon or Amazone is worth at least 1250 when a pawn is worth 100.

Chancellor: The Chancellor can move like a Rook or a Knight.

Chancellor is worth 800 when a pawn is worth 100.

Archbishop: The Archbishop can move like a Bishop and a Knight.

Archbishop is worth 770 when a pawn is worth 100.

Elephant: Similar to the King, the Elephant can move one square in all directions. It also leaps orthogonally or diagonally by 2 squares. The Elephant can control up-to a maximum of 16 squares.

Elephant is worth 630 when a pawn is worth 100.

Hawk: The Hawk is a pure leaper. It jumps 2 or 3 squares orthogonally or diagonally in any direction.

Hawk is worth 550 when a pawn is worth 100.

Fortress: It can move in an unobstructed path, sliding diagonally in any direction, but limited to a maximum of 3 squares (for example from f1 it can slide to e2, d3, c4, g2 and h3 but cannot reach b5 or a6). The Fortress can also "jump" like a Knight only 2 squares vertically and 1 square horizontally (from f1 it reaches g3 and e3 but cannot jump to h2 and d2). The Fortress can also "jump" in any direction vertically or horizontally by two squares (from e3 it can jump to c3, g3, e5 and e1).

Fortress is worth 760 when a pawn is worth 100.

 

 

Spider: It can move in an unobstructed path, sliding diagonally in any direction, but limited to two squares. The Spider can also "jump" like a Knight. It can also "jump" in any direction vertically or horizontally by two squares. When starting from h1 for example, it can move to g2, f3. It can also "jump" to h3, g3 f1 and f2.

Spider is worth 815 when a pawn is worth 100.

Rules

Notes