Behemoth Chess

By Donald Seagraves

Introduction

This variant was inspired by Seth McGinnis and Erik Wilson's Juggernaut Chess.

Equipment

You will need an extra piece of some kind that will fit on a single chess square (the more menacing the piece, ther better.) You will also need two special dice - an eight-sided die and a four sided die - that you should be able to obtain from any good hobby/game store that carries role-playing supplies.

Rules

Behemoth chess is played in all ways exactly as International Chess, with the exception of an additional piece belonging to neither player: the Behemoth.

The Behemoth

The Behemoth is a moving force of destruction. At the beginning of the game the behemoth is placed at d4. (Why? Well, there are three reasons: One, this location is one of the center four squares. Two, the Behemoth does not immediately endanger either king. Three, this places the Behemoth closer to the white player, who has the first-play advantage.) Then, after every move, you roll the dice to see which way the Behemoth moves.

Unfortunately for the hapless chessmen, the Behemoth is completely indestructible. Anything it tramples, dies. It will wander merrily about the board, destroying everything in its path, until nothing is left.

So why an eight-sided die and a four-sided die? To determin the movement of the Behemoth. The eight-sided die determines direction, as follows:

        1 2 3
        4 B 5  B=Behemoth
        6 7 8

When the Behemoth moves it destroys everything in its path - not just the chessman that it comes to rest upon. The Behemoth can capture Kings -- a player having their King so captured, loses, and if both Kings are captured by the same Behemoth move, then the game in a draw -- but does not offer check. Thus, a player who feels lucky could leave their King within striking distance of a Behemoth.

Differences between Behemoth Chess and Juggernaut Chess

The main difference between Juggernaut and Behemoth is in the movement of the indestructable pieces. The Behemoth can move more than one space per turn, while the Juggernaut can only move one. The Juggernaut has the ability to teleport to anywhere on the board about 10% of the time, while the Behemoth cannot.