Abecedarian Big Chess (ABChess)

K

The King may move one space in any direction. As in most forms of chess, the King may not move to a square that is attacked by an enemy, and must not be left in a position where it is being attacked by an enemy.

ABChess borrows two limits on the King from Xiangqi. First, the King is restricted to the nine squares of his fortress. Second, the Kings may never face each other on the same file, with no pieces in between them.

In the diagram, spaces marked 1 would be legal King moves but for the fortress rule. Spaces marked 2 would be legal King moves but for the rule about opposing Kings on a file with nothing between them.

Y

(Center example) The Yeoman is a combination of traditional pawns. On its own side of the river, it moves one square forward (as in Xiangqi). This includes captures.

(Left example) A Yeoman on its starting square may move two spaces forward instead of one, but only if both are vacant (as in orthodox chess).

(Right example) A Yeoman which has crossed the river can move or capture one square sideways as well as forward (also as in Xiangqi).

A Yeoman which moves to any space on the opponent's side of the river may, as part of that move, promote (similar to Shogi). A Yeoman may choose not to promote, but must move again in order to promote later. A Yeoman may promote to any piece already lost by its side this game.

A

The Archbishop may move like a Bishop, sliding any clear distance along a diagonal, or like a Horse, with a (1,2) leap. When moving like a Horse the Archbishop ignores intervening pieces.

B

The Bishop may slide any clear distance along a diagonal. It may not leap over any piece, or move onto a square occupied by a friendly piece.

C

The Camel moves one square horizontally or vertically, turns 90 degrees, and continues three squares; or the opposite (three squares, turn, one square). In either case it ignores intervening pieces and leaps from square to square.

D

The Dragon may move like a Horse, with a (1,2) leap. It may also move like an orthodox chess pawn, one square straight forward to an empty square or one square diagonally forward to a square occupied by an enemy.

The Dragon does not share the orthodox pawn's two-square forward movement from its starting position.

E

The Eagle moves forward diagonally like a Bishop, sliding any clear distance. It moves vertically backward like a Rook, sliding any clear distance. It moves straight forward or sideways one square. Finally, it moves diagonally backward one or two squares (but does not leap to do so).

F

The Fad may move one square diagonally, or leap two squares diagonally, or leap two squares horizontally or vertically. The two-space moves ignore intervening pieces. Note that a Fad, like a Bishop or Camel, is bound to squares of one color.

The Fad's move combines the classic moves of the Ferz, Alfil, and Dabbabah, whence the name.

G

The Gryphon moves one space diagonally, and may then continue outward either horizontally or vertically any number of unobstructed spaces. The Gryphon cannot leap over other pieces, and must start its move with the one diagonal space.

H

The Horse moves one square horizontally or vertically, turns 90 degrees, and continues two squares; or the opposite (two squares, turn, one square). In either case it ignores intervening pieces and leaps from square to square.

I

The Immobilizer moves like a Queen, sliding any distance in any direction. An Immobilizer cannot capture. However, it freezes adjacent enemies. Any piece adjacent to an enemy Immobilizer (including diagonally) cannot move.

J

The Jugyo, or vertical mover, may slide any clear distance vertically like a Rook. It may instead move one space horizontally.

L

The Lion may leap exactly two squares in any of the eight directions, ignoring intervening pieces. Two-square moves may or may not capture. The Lion may also move one space in any direction like a King, but only to capture.

M

The Marshal may move like a Rook, sliding any clear distance horizontally or vertically, or like a Horse, with a (1,2) leap. When moving like a Horse the Marshal ignores intervening pieces.

N

The Nightrider's move starts out identical to the Horse, a (1,2) leap. However, if the square in question is vacant the Nightrider may continue (1,2) leaps along the same line without limit, until the square which would be landed upon is not empty. It slides or rides along the line of squares a classic knight-move apart just like a Bishop or Rook slides along a traditional line.

O

The Overtaker may make a non-capturing move of one space in any direction to an empty square. The Overtaker may capture an enemy piece, in any of the eight directions, by leaping over it to the next square beyond if that square is empty.

P

The Pao moves without capturing like a Rook, sliding any distance horizontally or vertically. To capture, a Pao moves like a Rook, leaps over exactly one piece of either color, and continues on that line to land on the next occupied space if and only if an enemy occupies it.

The Pao may not capture without leaping over exactly one piece. The Pao may not leap over a piece without capturing. The piece captured is the piece landed upon, not the piece leaped over.

Q

The Queen may move like a Bishop, sliding any clear distance along a diagonal, or like a Rook, sliding any clear distance horizontally or vertically.

R

The Rook may slide any clear distance horizontally or vertically. It may not leap over any piece, or move onto a square occupied by a friendly piece.

S

The Suizo, or drunk elephant, may move one space in any direction except directly backward. It has seven possible moves in most positions.

T

The Teleporter, when not capturing, may move to any light space when on a dark space, or any dark space when on a light space, outside the two fortresses.

The Teleporter in ABChess may capture by moving one space horizontally or vertically to a space occupied by an opponent. This is the only way a Teleporter can occupy a fortress.

U

The Unicorn may move like a Bishop, sliding any clear distance along a diagonal, or like a Nightrider, in a line of successive (1,2) leaps provided that each leap save the last is to a vacant square.

V

The Varan may move like a Rook, sliding any clear distance horizontally or vertically, or like a Nightrider, in a line of successive (1,2) leaps provided that each leap save the last is to a vacant square.

W

The Wildebeest may move like a Horse with a (1,2) leap, or like a Camel with a (1,3) leap. It ignores intervening pieces.

X

The Xebec, a complement to the Jugyo, may slide any clear distance horizontally like a Rook. It may also move as a Horse, but specifically one space vertically followed by two spaces horizontally and not the opposite. The Xebec ignores intervening pieces when using its Horse-like moves.

Z

The Zebra moves two squares horizontally or vertically, turns 90 degrees, and continues three squares; or the opposite (three squares, turn, two squares). In either case it ignores intervening pieces and leaps from square to square.