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This page is written by the game's inventor, Charles Daniel.

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.

This game will specially appeal to those who like long leaping pieces.

Setup

Sorcerer Chess starting position 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

Sorcerer Chess starting position 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

The Sorcerer possesses two modes of movement. The Sorcerer capture any piece on the square it lands. The Sorcerer combines the movement of the following pieces early in chess history: The Zebra (for the 3,2 leap) and the Wazir for the one orthogonal step.
Sorcerer’s moves 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

The Conjurer too possesses a dual movement. This conjurer too captures any piece on the square it lands.

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.

Conjurer’s moves 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

While the above pieces alone can be used for a satisfactory game, play can be enhanced by invoking the Drop Rule and dropping 4 Ninja Pawns, the Stealth Gryphon and the Anti-Gryphon.

The Ninja Pawn

The ninja pawn possesses slightly different modes of movement and capture depending on which half of the board it is on.
Movement:
The ninja pawn can always move 1 square up or 1 square sideways to an empty square from any part of the board.
When the pawn is situated in the lower half of the board (for White, rank 0-5 and for black 11-6), it can move forward multiple vacant squares (1-5 squares) to reach the middle of the board (rank 5 for White or rank 6 for Black). This move can be done at any time regardless of how many times the pawn has moved. Thus White can on each turn move from e0-e2, e2-d2 and d2-d5.
Once it passes the middle, the ninja pawn can only move 1 square forward at a time, or move 1 square horizontally.
Capture:
Like the standard pawn it can capture one square diagonally up, regardless of which half of the board it is on.
When the ninja pawn is on the top half of board (White rank 6 +, Black rank 5-) , it can also capture one square horizontally.
There is no en passant. It cannot capture another pawn or ninja pawn en passant nor can any other pawn capture it this way.
Promotion: The ninja pawn promotes on the last row (rank 10 for white, rank 1 for black), to any piece. Promotion to a piece is mandatory so it would cease to be a pawn in the last row.

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

The Stealth Gryphon is a potentially powerful piece that can control multiple files and ranks if used effectively, and its awkward move can catch an unsuspecting opponent by surprise.
Movement/Capture by replacement: It must move along any unobstructed path (it cannot leap) of 1 square diagonally followed by 2 or more squares horizontally or vertically outwards. Thus, it can reach its destination square only one way but it can exert a powerful influence when not blocked.
The Achilles heel of the Gryphon (and the Anti-Gryphon) is its susceptibility to having its path blocked, and its vulnerability to close range attack.
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

The Stealth Anti-Gryphon is the exact inverse of the Stealth Gryphon, and so controls multiple diagonals.
Movement/Capture by replacement: It must move along any unobstructed path (it cannot leap) of 1 square horizontally or vertically followed by 2 or more squares diagonally outwards.
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

The rules are as in orthodox chess except as noted below:

Reinforcements - Dropping pieces

Players have the option to drop 4 Ninja Pawns, 1 Stealth Gryphon and 1 Anti-Gryphon during the game.

Notes



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 Charles Daniel.
Web page created: 2008-02-02. Web page last updated: 2008-02-02