External Link: Oxybeles Chess
The Oxybeles moves like a king, one step in any direction, but it cannot capture in this way. Instead the Oxybeles, when it moves, has the power to sling a piece located behind itself to a forward square in the alignment direction. The slung piece, which can be of any colour, is located immediately behind the Oxybeles, in the opposite direction of the move. This piece can hit an enemy piece in the forward direction, provided that any intermediate squares are empty. If there is no enemy piece then the catapulted piece lands on the remotest square in a series of empty spaces. Pawns cannot be catapulted to the first rank, that is, the second rank is the limit. Kings and rooks retain their castle rights if catapulted away and back, while they haven't moved by their own accord. The Oxybeles's value is the same as a knight (preliminary estimate). Although the Oxybeles has less slinging capacity than its relative, the Mangonel (see "Mangonel Chess"), it is more maneuverable, while friendly pieces are in less danger of being dislocated.Oxybeles ("bolt shooter") : an ancient weapon used by the Ancient Greeks starting in 375 B.C.E. The weapon was basically an oversized composite bow placed on a stand.
A Zillions
program and more information is here.External Link: http://www.two-paths.com/bg/oxybeleschess.htm
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By M Winther.
Web page created: 2006-10-17. Web page last updated: 2006-10-17