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Modern English Random Chess





Modern English Random Chess (MERC) is a 10x10 variant inspired by applying the 'Modern' principles to English Random Chess.

Benjamin Clark originally proposed English Random Chess in 2004. Simply stated English Random Chess is a variant played with the pieces of a standard chess set, on a Polish or International Draughts (Checkers) 10x10 board (below right).



In English Random Chess (ERC) the pawns are placed on the players 3rd rank, with the pieces randomly placed behind the pawns. There are no men on the first and last files or ranks. (see sample position above left)

There are no restrictions in ERC regarding the random placement of the pieces behind the pawns, any combination is valid, and there is no symmetry between the two sides. Each side has their own random setup. There are 5,040 possible setups per side and 25,401,600 possible different games that can be played (5,040 x 5,040).

Castling is possible, provided the random position allows it (i.e. the King starts between the rooks), and Bishops can be on the same color squares. In the sample English Random Chess position above Black is able to castle (but White is not), and White has both Bishops on the light color squares.

In Modern English Random Chess there are also no restrictions regarding the random placement of the pieces behind the pawns, any combination is valid, but there is reverse symmetry between the two sides.

Symmetric Castling is possible in MERC, provided the random position allows it (i.e. the King starts between the rooks).

The Bishops can be on the same color squares and like the other Modern variants, MERC has the Bishop Adjustment Rule to allow players to move a Bishop to the opposite color squares in those random positions where both Bishops start on the same color squares.

Modern English Random Chess has the 5,040 different possible reverse symmetric starting setups.

Setup



The pawns are placed on the players 3rd rank, with the pieces randomly placed behind the pawns. There are no men on the first and last files or ranks.

All pieces are randomly placed in the players' second rank, without any restrictions. It is possible for both Bishops to be on the same color squares (dark or light squares).

The King may be or not between the two rooks. In those positions where the King starts between the rooks, symmetric castling is allowed.

There are 5,040 different legal starting positions in Modern English Random Chess.

There is a Bishop Adjustment rule that is in effect only in games when both Bishops start on the same color squares in the initial random setup. This rule allows players to move one of the Bishops to the opposite color, if they so desire.

Reverse Symmetry



The opponents’ pieces are placed with reverse symmetry (White’s piece at b2 is equivalent to Black’s i9, White’s c2 to Black’s h9, White’s d2 to Black’s g9, White’s e2 to Black’s f9, and so on…). Both White and Black players have the same view of the board, both of their own pieces, as well as for the enemy army.

Pieces

Orthodox Chess pieces are exclusively used.

Rules

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Orthodox Chess rules apply when applicable. Modified Castling rules are below, as well as the new Bishop Adjustment Rule.

Pawn promotion takes place when pawns reach their 10th rank.

Castling

The Modern English Random Chess castling rules are based in the Fischer Random Chess rules.

In those MERC positions where castling is allowed (i.e. the King starts between the rooks), depending on the pre-castling position on the castling King and Rook, the castling manoeuvre is performed by one of these four methods:


Castling the King and Rook will be placed as if the player had castled short in Orthodox Chess, both to either side of the board. There is no long castling (O-O-O) in MERC.

Thus, after c-castling (notated as O-Oc), the King is on the c-square (c2 for White and c9 for Black) and the Rook is on the d-square (d2 for White and d9 for Black). After h-castling (notated as O-Oh), the King is on the h-square (h2 for White and h9 for Black) and the Rook is on the g-square (g2 for White and g9 for Black). h-castling (O-Oh) is identical to Ortodox Chess short castling (O-O).

This table shows where the King and Rook end up and the notation for each type of castling.

White castles a-sidec-castlingO-OcKc2, Rd2
White castles j-sideh-castlingO-OhKh2, Rg2
Black castles a-sidec-castlingO-OcKc9, Rd9
Black castles j-sideh-castlingO-OhKh9, Rg9

However, castling may only occur under the following conditions, which are extensions of the standard rules for castling:

These rules have the following consequences:

The Bishop Adjustment Rule

In those positions where the Bishops start up in the same color squares (either both on dark or light squares), players on their turn, are allowed to convert one (and only one) of their Bishops to the opposite color square by swapping places with any piece adjacent to them. Neither the Bishop nor the piece to be adjusted with may have moved before the Bishop swap. The Bishop adjustment will count as a single turn, and a move for both the Bishop and the piece swapped with.

The Bishop Adjustment Rule is optional, and a player is not forced to use it. A player may choose to play with his Bishops on the same color squares if he so desires, even if his opponent chooses to adjust one of his Bishops.

Note that the Bishop Adjustment rule has the following consequences in MERC:

Notes

Game Courier Preset

Modern English Random Chess preset

Game Courier Logs

Game Courier Logs for Games of Modern English Random Chess

To see actual games that have been played on-line, follow the link above.

Modern English Random Chess (MERC) was created by José Manuel Carrillo-Muñiz, from Puerto Rico in 2008.

Chess Variants by the Author:

Other Pages by the Author:


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 Jose Carrillo.
Web page created: 2008-08-13. Web page last updated: 2008-08-20