Dream Chess 47
In Dream Chess 46 I gave a formula for the kind of array that I dreamed of in the early hours of the 16th of November 07: 2(x-y)²-(x-2y)² = 2(x²+y²-2xy)-(x²+4y²-4xy) = (2-1)x²+(2-4)y²+(4-4)xy = x²-2y², where x the dimension of the oriinal square board and y the dimension of that removed from opposite corners. The case of x=8, y=3 gave 46 squares and by happy coincidence that of x=7, y=1 gives the next integer, 47! This gives me a possible entry for the 47-cell variant contest. As the formula illustrates, it can also be viewed as two 6x6 supersquares with a square overlap of side 5 - one copy of which must therefor be subtracted from twice the 6x6 square to give the total number of squares.An asymmetry between the two Bishop bindings made me ponder what to do to Bishops to unbind them. I considered but rejected the Yang Qi King swap, as using it in a variant not based on Yang Qi seemed too presumptuous. I also rejected an additional move along a single "forward" orthogonal, as the orientation does not suit such a definition of forward. Problems of defining "forward" also inspired me to replace the Pawn with something more versatile. My final decisions are covered as individual pieces.
Setup
Pieces
   | The King, Queen, and Knight are the standard FIDE pieces. |
  | The Chatelaine is a Rook that can also make a single step along any diagonal, and the Primate is a Bishop that can also make a single step along any orthogonal. I have often used these pieces, mostly as promotees in Shogi-based variants. They can of course be represented by the physical Rooks and Bishops of a FIDE set. |
 | The Steward is an expansion of the Pawn to all eight radial directions. It can capture one step along any diagonal, or move without capturing one step along any orthogonal. My own first use of it is in Irwell. They can of course be represented by the physical Pawns of a FIDE set. |
Rules
A Knight leap, single-step move, or single step within a longer move must be within one or other supersquare. A longer move may go from one to the other, with one or two intermediate squares being in the central intersection.There is no initial double-step move, En Passant, or Castling.
A Steward reaching either far edge of the enemy supersquare may optionally be promoted to a stronger piece captured by the enemy. If there is no such piece available, or the player judges it advantageous to leave the Steward unpromoted, it continues as a Steward, which it can because it is not forward-only.
Check, Checkmate, and Stalemate are as usual.
Notes
There will be no Dream Chess 48 as 48 cannot be suitably expressed. However I have a different kind of entry in mind for when a 48-cell contest materialises. There is however room for a rather extreme Dream Chess 49 (x=9, y=4). Dream Chess 50 is impossible as x=10, y=5 severs the connection between the two camps.
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By Charles Gilman.
Last revised by H. G. Muller.
Web page created: 2008-11-29. Web page last updated: 2022-12-06