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Stock Goes East 25 files

Stockschach uses 3d analogues of FIDE pieces based on distance in and out from the centre files of a cubic board to the outer ones. Pieces are represented by their FIDE analogues in numbers determined by the fact that 6² is equal to (5x7)+1 and 8² to (9x7)+1, so that the cubes of sides 6 and 8 used 5 and 9 FIDE sets respectively.

A similar analysis can be applied where ranks are squares of odd side, in terms of multiples of the 8 which is one less the number of ranks in Shogi and Xiang Qi rather than the 7 that is one less than the FIDE number. There is even a trivial example as 9, as well as (1x8)+1, is itself a square number - a fact that I exploit in Switchback Xiang Qi. More relevantly 5² is (3x8)+1, 7² (6x8)+1, and 9² (10x8)+1. This page deals with the first of these, 5x5. As the words part of the page title has only 13 letters I can treat the page as the first of a series, albeit one with only even-numbered pages! Since first posting this page I have added the second, Stock Goes East 49 Files.

Most files relate to each other exactly as they do in even-file boards. An exception is centre file xc, as every move from it to another file is an outward - and to it from another file an inward - move. I will note how this affects individual pieces in their own entries.

Setup

Boards have 9 or 10 numbered ranks, 5 filestacks - vertical stacks of files - lettered a-e, and 5 levels lettered v-z. An empty rank takes this form:
  a   b   c   d   e
 --- --- --- --- ---
|   |   |   |   |   |v
 --- === === === ---
|   #   |   |   #   |w
 --- --- === --- ---
|   #   #   #   #   |x
 --- --- === --- ---
|   #   |   |   #   |y
 --- === === === ---
|   |   |   |   |   |z
 --- --- --- --- ---

For each variant I display (in that order) levels v, w, and x. In Stockgi level y differs from w in having Stockbrooks instead of Stockunicorns, and level z from v in having Stockunicorns instead of Stockbrooks. In the rest, level y is identical to w and level z identical to v.

STOCKGI 25 files is the Stock analogue to Shogi:
STOCK QI 25 files is the Stock analogue to Xiang Qi:
STOCKYANG 25 files is the Stock analogue to Yang Qi:
STOCKHORN 25 files is the Stock analogue to Mitregi, and the closest thing so far to the Cubic Horngi from which I suggested Hex Horngi may need distinguishing:
STOCK TAIJITU 25 files is the Stock analogue to Taijitu Qi:

Pieces

Piece names are fully explained toward the end of my piece article Man and Beast 15: Strengthened Across the Board.

Royally-restricted pieces are non-Stock.
EmperorThe EMPEROR is the King analogue in Stockyang, Stockhorn, and Stock Taijitu. It moves one step in any of the 26 radial directions, and must be kept out of Check.
KingThe KING itself is the General analogue in Stockgi and Stock Qi. It moves one step in any of the Rook's 6 and Bishop's 12 directions, and must be kept out of Check.
These are the only pieces that can move orthogonally through boundaries marked --- and |.

Analogues of orthogonal 2d pieces move along the following types of radial:
(1) file (from Rook via Brook);
(2) same-filestack diagonal crossing level boundaries marked ---, but not those marked ===;
(3) same-level diagonal crossing filestack boundaries marked |, but not those marked #;
(4) "refracting" diagonal switching from (2) to (3) or vice versa;
(5) same-rank diagonal (from Bishop via Brook);
(6) same-rank orthogonal crossing level boundaries marked ===, but not those marked ---;
(7) same-rank orthogonal crossing filestack boundaries marked #, but not those marked |;
(8) "contrarefracting" orthogonal switching from (6) to (7) or vice versa.
They include the:
StockbrookSTOCKBROOK, the Rook analogue in all variants, moving any distance through empty intermediate cells;
StockacannonSTOCKACANNON, the Cannon analogue in Stock Qi, Stockyang, and Stock Taijitu, differing from the Stockbrook in that capturing requires an intervening piece, of either army an unaffected by the move;
StockwingSTOCKWING, the Wing analogue in Stockgi and Stockhorn, moving like a Stockbrook but in the forward forms of moves 1-4 only;
StockfwazirSTOCKFWAZIR, the Wazir analogue in Stock Taijitu, moving one step;
StockedabbabaStepping STOCKEDABBABA, the Dabbaba analogue in Stock Taijitu, moving two steps through an empty intermediate cell;
(non
array) SUPERSTOCKPOINT, the Superpoint analogue in Stock Qi, moving one step in the forward and same-rank directions only;
StockpointSTOCKPOINT, the Point analogue in Stockgi, Stock Qi, and Stockhorn, moving one step in the forward forms of moves 1-3 only.
..
Analogues of diagonal 2d pieces move along the following types of radial:
(1) root-3 diagonal, commonly called triagonal (from Unicorn);
(2) same-filestack diagonal crossing level boundaries marked ===, but not those marked ---;
(3) same-level diagonal crossing filestack boundaries marked #, but not those marked |;
(4) "contrarefracting" diagonal switching from (2) to (3) or vice versa.
They include the:
StockunicornSTOCKUNICORN, the Bishop analogue in all variants except Stock Qi, moving any distance through empty intermediate cells;
StockslingSTOCKSLING, the Arrow analogue in Stockyang and Stock Taijitu, differing from the Stockunicorn in that capturing requires an intervening piece, of either army an unaffected by the move;
StockhornSTOCKHORN, the Mitre analogue in Stockhorn, moving like a Stockunicorn but in the forward directions only;
StockviceroySTOCKVICEROY, the Ferz analogue in Stock Qi and Stock Taijitu, moving one step;
StockeunuchStepping STOCKEUNUCH, the Elephant analogue in Stock Qi and Stock Taijitu, moving two steps through an empty intermediate cell;
StocksaltireSTOCKSALTIRE, the Cross analogue in Stockhorn, moving one step in the forward forms of moves 1-3 only.
Analogues of capturable 2d pieces mixing the two kinds of radial mix the two groups of 3d radial. They include the:
StockbgoldSTOCKBGOLD, the Gold analogue in Stockgi and Stockhorn, Stockfwazir+Stocksaltire;
StockazureSTOCKAZURE, the Silver analogue in Stockgi and Stockhorn, Stockviceroy+Stockpoint;
(non
array) STOCKMVICEREINE, the Chatelaine analogue in Stockgi and Stockhorn, Stockbrook+Stockviceroy;
(non
array) STOCKHBESIEGER, the Primate analogue in Stockgi and Stockhorn, Stockunicorn+Stockfwazir;
StockbrokerSTOCKBROKER, the Pawn analogue in Stockyang.It moves like a Stockpoint except when capturing, which it does as a Stocksaltire.

Analogues of Knightwise 2d pieces move in the following types of oblique diection:
StocknsextonTwo forms of the STOCKNSEXTON are the stepping Knight analogue in Stock Qi, which can be blocked at a pass-through square, and the leaping Knight analogue in Stockyang and Stock Taijitu, which is unblockable. Moves comprise a series of steps in the following directions:

Before pass-throughAfter pass-through
(1)forward/backwardforward/backward, up/down, left/right(from Sexton via Nsexton)
(2)forward/backwardforward/backward, up/down through boundary marked === (but not ---)
(3)forward/backwardforward/backward, left/right through boundary marked # (but not |)
(4)up/down, left/rightforward/backward, up/down, left/right(from Ninja via Nsexton)
(5)up/down through boundary marked === (but not ---)forward/backward, up/down through boundary marked === (but not ---)
(6)left/right through boundary marked # (but not |)forward/backward, left/right through boundary marked # (but not |)
(7)up/down through boundary marked === (but not ---)forward/backward, left/right through boundary marked # (but not |)
(8)left/right through boundary marked # (but not |)forward/backward, up/down through boundary marked === (but not ---)

StockshovelThe STOCKSHOVEL is the Helm analogue in Stockgi and Stockhorn, moving as a leaping Stocknsexton but in the forward forms of moves 1-3 only.

Rules

In Stockyang, the rear Stockbrokers have an optional initial double-step noncapturing move. The two steps need not be in the same direction - and in some cases cannot be - but must be valid noncapturing moves as if each step were a whole move. Immediately after making such a move they may be captured En Passant by an enemy Stockbroker from any starting cell, as if it had made only the first step, if such a piece is so placed to do so. Other variants have no double-step initial move or En Passant.

There is no Castling or Cathedralling.

In Stockyang and Stock Taijitu the Emperor may, in place of a normal move, swap places with any adjacent Stockyang piece of the same army, including a Stocknsexton, if neither piece is threatened.

In Stockgi and Stockhorn a player who has captured an enemy piece can reintroduce it in place of a normal move, and some can be promoted on a move entering, moving within, or leaving the three ranks of the enemy camp. A piece with no further move unpromoted must be promoted. A promoted piece returns unpromoted, and pieces cannot return on a cell where promotion would be required. The Emperor and Stocksbrass are unpromotable in both variants. Promotions are as follows:

UnpromotedStockgi promoteeStockhorn promotee
StockbrookStockmvicereineStockmvicereine
StockunicornStockhbesiegerStockhbesieger
StockazureStocksbrassunpromotable
StockwingStocksbrassStocksbrass
StockhornN/AStockazure
StockshovelStocksbrassStocksbrass
StockpointStocksbrassStocksbrass
StocksaltireN/AStockazure

The Stock Qi and Stock Taijitu board comprises two cubes. A Stockpoint entering the enemy cube is promoted to a Superstockpoint, and on the far rank it moves as a Ferz would on a 2d board. Stockedabbbaas and Stockeunuchs cannot enter the enemy cube. In Stock Taijitu a player moving a Stockbrook or Stockacannon into the enemy cube can promote a Stockviceroy or Stockeunuch, and a player moving a Stockunicorn or Stocksling into the enemy cube promote a Stockfwazir or Stockedabbaba, to a long-range piece captured by the enemy. This is not allowed if it would leave their Fortress empty of one-step pieces.

The King in Stock Qi, Stockfwazirs in Stock Taijitu, and Stockviceroys in both cannot leave a Fortress comprising the intersection of the first 3 ranks, middle 3 filestacks, and middle 3 levels. In Stock Taijitu the Emperor is unrestricted while the player has an unpromoted Stockfwazir or Stockviceroy but, once all these are captured or promoted, must return to the Fortress within two moves and remain in it thereafter.

Check, Checkmate, and Stalemate are as usual. Stock Qi has the additional restriction that the Kings cannot face each other along a file with no intervening piece.


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By Charles Gilman.
Web page created: 2010-01-09. Web page last updated: 2010-01-09