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This page is written by the game's inventor, Namik Zade.

Aliens Vs Predators (AVP)

"The three fiercest species in the universe have been locked in a bloody, galaxy-spanning battle for years. With each new encounter, it seems the on-going conflict will never end. After a small unit of Colonial Marines, dispatched to planet LV-742, reveals the presence of both Predators and Aliens, it is decided that the conflict must end once and for all. After years of smaller battles, there is only one clear path to total universal supremacy, WAR! You must now defeat your enemies to ensure the survival of your species... or face Extinction" - From the film review.

The idea of this variant of the game in itself is not new. Inspirational sources were "Maharadscha" and the wellknown movies.

Setup

Predators` "Forces of Order" (White): P P P P P P P P P P / R N B U Q K U B N R / . . Ca A . . C Ca . .

Aliens (Black - has 3 King): In the first phase the Black take turns to drop pieces (Al) on the board first, second or third row on any square. But not in one row diagonal or ortogonal. For example Figure 1.

Figure 1. Aliens Vs Predators

Pieces

p (pawns), R (Rook), B (Bishop), N (Knight), A (Archbishop), C (Chancellor), Q (Queen) and K (King) - wellknown pieces. The Unicorn (U) has a kind of stretched Knights move: it jumps one diagonally and two stright, so e.g. from a1 to b4 or d2, from d2 to g1, g3, e5, c5, a3 and a1, and so on. As a Knight, an Unicorn is not obstructed by pieces standing on passed squares. The Unicorns has properties of Bishops that can moves on the white or black squares only. The Chancellor (C) - has the combined moves of a Rook and a Knight. The Archbishop (A) - has the combined moves of a Bishop and a Knight. The Cannon (Ca) moves differently when it moves to capture than when it moves passively. Ca - moves passively as an Orthodox Rook. Ca - moves to capture as an Orthodox Rook which is required to hop over a single screen. In other words, Ca - capture by hoping over a second piece in order to capture a third piece. For example, Ca - on a1 can take a piece on f1 when exactly one of the points b1, c1, d1, or e1 is occupied by a piece of either color. Ca - only capture when hoping and only hop when capturing. They may never hop over more than one piece in a given move. Ca needs an intermediate piece between itself and its victim. The Cannon jumps the intermediate and take the victim on its square. The intermediate is left unaffected. Al (Alien) moves like Queen + Knight.

Rules

The game follows the Standart Orthodox Chess rules with four exceptions:

1. All killed pieces from Predators` side may be transform to friendly Aliens`pieces (the pieces infected by the Aliens become as they, f.exp. Alien Bishop, Alien Rook, Alien Knight, Aliens Pawns and so on). To transform pieces in Alien's can only Aliens Kings. The killed pieces have to be located on the first or second row on any squares from Aliens side (white Bishop and Unicorn on a white squares and vice versa). The killed Pawns must be located on the third row from Black side on any squares, too. It is not obligatory and depend from desire of Aliens. The location has killed piece is immediately.

2. At double fork from White side, the Alien King which cannot defend from under fork must be considered "the victim" and leaves from a board. It is obligatory;

3. Pawns from Predators side may be promoted only to killed pieces from own side;

4. The quantity of Aliens can be changed depending on desire of both opponents.

Object of the game for both players is to checkmate the opponent`s all Kings. The lost Alien from Black side must be removed from a board.

Notes

The difference in rankings between two players usually determines the hadicap. In this game handicap may be: 1 Alien, 2 Aliens, 3 Aliens and 4 Aliens. Two players of the same rank will alternate taking the 3-4 Aliens.

This game is similarity of the basic characteristics of participants of the battle.

This 'user submitted' page is a collaboration between the posting user and the Chess Variant Pages. Registered contributors to the Chess Variant Pages have the ability to post their own works, subject to review and editing by the Chess Variant Pages Editorial Staff.

By Namik Zade.
Web page created: 2006-05-05. Web page last updated: 2006-05-05