Piececlopedia: Okapi
The Okapi was invented in 1965 by Pierre Monréal for use in fairy chess problems. However, it was nearly six decades before the piece appeared in an actual chess variant.
(Illustrations: (L) Okapi piece by Jean-Louis Cazeau. (R) Okapi piece by Bob Greenwade.)
Movement
As shown in the illustration to the left, the Okapi moves as a compound of a Knight (1,2) and a Zebra (2,3). Because both of its components are colorswitching (that is, they change what color they're on each time they're moved), so is the Okapi.
The nature of the Okapi's moves means that it cannot, with an otherwise bare King, achieve checkmate, though it can force stalemate.
Appearances
As far as I can determine at this time, the only games that feature the Okapi (so far) are my own Short Sliders (2023) and Okapi Chess (2024).
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By Bob Greenwade.
Last revised by Bob Greenwade.
Web page created: 2024-03-27. Web page last updated: 2024-03-27