Bipartite Chess

Introduction

These are the rules for Stage One

Stage One Setup

     A   M M X M M
     B   M M M M M
     C   - - - - -
     D   - - - - -
     E   - - - - - 
     F   - - - - -
     G   - - - - - 
     H   M M M M M
     I   M M X M M

         1 2 3 4 5

Stage One Pieces

M - Messenger: The Messenger moves and captures exactly like a pawn in European Chess during Stage Two. During Stage One only the Messenger may move diagonlly forward even though it is not capturing an enemy piece.

Stage One Rules

1. The object of Stage One is to get all of your pieces to the opponents Home rows.
2. Black always goes first.
3. Messengers are not permitted an initial two step move.
4. There is no capturing in stage one.
5. There is no King in Stage One.
6. There is no promotion.
7. Stage One ends when one of the players achieves the object and gets all of his or her pieces into the opponent's Home Rows. The winner of Stage One wins the right to choose which of the two Power Pieces he or she would like to have in Stage Two, the loser gets the other Power Piece for Stage Two.

These are the rules for Stage Two:

Stage Two Setup

      A  D P K G C
      B  S M M M S
      C  - - - - -
      D  - - - - - 
      E  X - - - X
      F  - - - - -
      G  - - - - - 
      H  S M M M S
      I  C G K P D  

Stage Two Pieces

P - Power Pieces: There are two types of Power Pieces, one Diagonal Power Piece and one Orthogonal Power Piece. The diagonal Power Piece moves and captures like a Bishop in European Chess, but only to a maximum distance of three spaces.

      x           x
        x       x 
          x   x 
            P 
          x   x
        x       x
      x           x

The Orthogonal Power Piece moves and captures like a Rook in European Chess, but only to a maximum distance of three spaces.

        x
        x
        x
  x x x P x x x
        x
        x
        x

C - Captain: The Captain moves and captures like a Knight in European Chess, but he also has a movement-only option one square directly to the front or back.

        x   x
      x   m   x
          C
      x   m   x
        x   x

G - Guard: The Guard moves and captures like a King in Orthodox chess, but it does not capture on any of the spaces behind it.

        x x x
        x G x
        m m m

S - Soldier: The Soldier moves and captures like a King in European Chess, but cannot capture on any orthogonal space.

        x m x
        m S m
        x m x 

D - Swordsman: The Swordsman moves like a limited European Chess Rook, who can only move two in any orthogonal direction, but he only captures on the second space, he cannot capture on the first space. The Swordsman cannot leap.

          -
          o
      x m D m x
          m
          x

Stage Two Rules

1. The objective in Stage Two is to check mate the opponent's King.
2. In Stage Two all of the pieces may capture.
3. During Stage Two the Messengers move and capture exactly like European Chess Pawns, and they are permitted an initial two step move.
4. There is no en passant capture.
5. Promotion: The Messengers promote to Soldiers when reaching the enemy Home Rows. There is no other promotion.
6. Capturing all of your opponent's pieces except the King (Bare King) counts as a win unless, on the very next move, the opponent can bare your King, in which case the game is a draw.

Computer Play

Equipment

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