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This page is written by the game's inventor, John Groeneman.

Half Chess

by John Groeneman, Richmond VA, 6/97

When I was a teenager in Denver, Colorado in the late 1960's, two friends of mine with half of a checker board did something almost obvious. I kind of wish I had thought of it myself, though I would not be surprised if it has been independently invented several times. Half Chess was discovered as much as it was invented. It's creators never had much of a sense of having worked to make it. We tried some variations and improvements, but finally decided it was some kind of gift from Caissa or something and left it alone. If Chess is wine, Half Chess is brandy. This is a wild game, exercise caution and count your fingers afterwards.