Sorcerer Chess

The game is played identical to chess, except for extended initial pawn move and en-passant rules, flexible castling and the 2 new pieces. Additionally, the optional drop rule can be applied to bring 3 new pieces into the game: the Ninja Pawn, the Gryphon and the Anti-Gryphon.

Setup

Start Position for white. (black mirrors white) Sorcerers on a1,j1 Rooks on b1,i1 knights on c1,h1 bishops on d1, g1 queen on e1 king on f1 Conjurers on e0,f0 pawns from a2-j2

Board Setup #2

Start Position for white. (black mirrors white) Conjurers on a1,j1 Rooks on b1,i1 knights on c1,h1 bishops on d1, g1 queen on e1 king on f1 Sorcerers on e0,f0 pawns from a2-j2

Pieces

The Sorcerer's Moves

Movement:
• Move one step orthogonally (horizontally or vertically)
• Leap to the square by travelling three horizontal/vertical and two squares perpendicular (3,2 leap).
  An alternative way of remembering this move: Leap one square orthogonal and then two squares diagonally from over that square.

The Sorcerer on d4 is attacking all the pieces in the diagram. It can jump to the squares in green, or move to the blue squares. It can capture the pawn on d5 by moving to that square. It is checking the black king at g2 and attacking the black queen at f7.

The Conjurer’s Moves

Movement:
• move one step in diagonally
• Leap to the square by travelling three horizontal/vertical and one squares perpendicular (3,1 leap).

The Conjurer is a compound piece. It combines the movement of the pieces early in chess history: The Camel (for the 3,1 leap) and the Ferz for the one diagonal step.
The commercial chess variant: Omega Chess, has a piece called the Wizard which is identical to the Conjurer. So for all intents and purposes the Conjurer can also be referred to as the Wizard.

The Conjurer on d4 can capture can step to any of the blue squares. It can also jump to the squares in green. It can capture the pawn on e5 by moving to that square. It can capture the knight on e7 by leaping to that square.

Reinforcements

The Ninja Pawn

In diagram, the black ninja pawn can go from e11-e6 or any other square in between or e11 to f11. The white pawn at f8 cannot capture it en passant Lets say the white ninja pawn went from e0-e2 , it still has the option of shooting forward to the middle regardless of how many moves it made before. e.g. it can go e0-e2, then e2-d2 . It can now (see diagram) go d2-d5 if unobstructed. The white ninja pawn at h9 can capture the bishop at i9 in addition to being able to go to g9 or to promote by going to h10.

The Stealth Gryphon

Partial board shows white king on e0 and black Stealth Gryphon on h1. Red is "offboard". Here the griffon is hampered by the edge of the board but still exerts great influence. It controls the squares in yellow but it is not checking king because it needs to go one diagonal first and then 2 or more orthogonal outwards and there is no such path towards the king.

The Stealth Anti-Gryphon

Partial board shows black Stealth Anti-Gryphon on e4. Note that it will control more squares on the actual board. Anti-Gryphon shown controls the squares in yellow. Notice its long-range prowess but short-range vulnerability. Esp note how easily a piece can block its path.

Rules

• Pawn moves: A pawn situated on the lower half of the board can at any time move forward 1-3 vacant squares to reach the center of the board (rank 5 for white, rank 6 for black). Once the pawn reaches the center row, it can move forward only one square at a time.
  Some examples: The white pawn at f2 can start f2-f5 or it can move f2-f4 then f4-f5, or f2-f3 followed by f3-f5, or move f2-g3 to capture enemy piece at g3 followed by g3-g5 next time it moves.
• En Passant: If a Pawn moves two or three squares initially and passes an opposing Pawn on the fourth or fifth rank, the Pawn may be captured en passant. E.g. White pawn on a2 black pawn on b4. If the white pawn moves from a2 to a4 or a5, the black pawn on b4 can capture it as if it had moved to a3. Similarly, if the black pawn is on b5 instead and the white pawn moves to a5 from a2 then the black pawn can capture the white pawn as if it moved to a4. Note in this case the white pawn can still avoid the black pawn by moving to a3 instead.
  If a pawn slides forward 2 squares on its second move, it can also be captured en passant by an opposing pawn on the fifth rank. E.g. white pawn on a3 and black pawn on b5. White plays a3-a5, black pawn on b5 can capture the pawn en passant by moving to a4.
  Capturing en passant is optional unless it is the only legal move available. The capture must be made on the next move.
• Pawn promotion: Pawns can now promote to: queen, bishop, knight, rook, Conjuror or Sorcerer on the 10th rank only.
• Castling: The usual castling criteria apply: No piece must be in between the spaces travelled by the king and castling rook, cannot castle out of check, King cannot pass over or land on squares attacked by enemy, but rook can.
  There are 7 possible castling positions: The choice of queenside castling positions will depend on whether it is immediately necessary for the king to be nearer the wing or for the rook to be centralized. Note that the rook must always be next to the king after castling.
  1. 1 space transposition - King Side Castling
     White moves King one space from f1-g1 and rook from i1-f1
     Black moves King one space from f10-g10 and rook from i10-f10
  2. 1 space transposition - Queen Side Castling
     White moves King one space from f1-e1 and rook from b1-f1
     Black moves King one space from f10-e10 and rook from b10-f10
  3. 2 space transposition - King Side Castling
     White moves King two spaces from f1-h1 and rook from i1-g1
     Black moves King two spaces from f10-h10 and rook from i10-g10
  4. 2 space transposition - Queen Side Castling
     White moves King two spaces from f1-d1 and rook from b1-e1
     Black moves King two spaces from f10-d10 and rook from b10-e10
  5. 3 space transposition - King Side Castling White moves King three spaces from f1-i1 and rook from i1-h1
     Black moves King three spaces from f10-i10 and rook from i10-h10
  6. 3 space transposition - Queen Side Castling White moves King three spaces from f1-c1 and rook from b1-d1
     Black moves King three spaces from f10-c10 and rook from b10-d10
  7. 4 space transposition - Queen Side Castling White moves King four spaces from f1-b1 and rook from b1-c1
     Black moves King four spaces from f10-b10 and rook from b10-c10
  The Sorcerer or Conjurer can remain at j1, j10, a10 or a1 when castling.
• The optional rule described below can be employed to create an even more exciting game.

Reinforcements - Dropping pieces

• A piece may be dropped on any empty rear square (e0,f0 for white, e11,f11 for black) at any time.
• Dropping a piece constitutes a move.
• A piece can deliver check or checkmate when dropped.
• A piece can block a check when dropped.
• Pawns/ninja pawns can promote to any piece that dropped into play for that side i.e. if side A drops a Gryphon than a pawn can promote to it regardless of if the piece is still on the board. But if side A has not yet dropped the Gryphon than the pawn cannot promote to it.

Notes

• The original start position has very similar weak points as the 8x8 standard chess game. For example the pawns g2 or g9 are protected only by their respective kings.
• The center pawns free the bishops just like in standard chess. And, (in board #1) instead of the knights, the Conjurers attack the center pawns. For example, f2-f5 f9-f6 white can play f0-g3 . Later white can play g1-c5 striking at black's weak point.
• While the Sorcerers and Conjurers can be quite powerful in the opening and middle stages of the game, they cannot force the checkmate of the opposite king with the aid of their king.