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Chess484

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The initial array is randomized according to Regroupment Chess rules. In this variant the queen and king of the parties are independently relocated. The resultant 484 possible setups deviate marginally from the standard position, but most of them are non-mirrored. The general chessplayer would feel at home in any of these positions. Rules:

Before play begins, king and queen each swap places with another piece except the rooks. Thus, if the king is swapped (relocated), the other piece (the relocatee) ends up on the king's square. If the queen is swapped, the relocatee ends up on the queen's square. One restriction is that the bishops mustn't end up on the same square colour. Note that the standard position can also occur. Note also that the king retains his castling rights even if it has been relocated. The castling rules derive from Chess960. King and rook end up on the same square as usual.

With these relocation rules the rooks remain in their natural positions, and the bishops are always positioned so that there is still a choice to develop them on either of the queen's or the king's wing. This maintains the strategical ambiguity of the initial position, while sound positions are produced where no definitive advantage can be obtained.

Note! Castling is done by dropping the king on the rook. This is to resolve ambiguites. (The players must themselves keep count of whether the king/rook have already been moved.) Moves are automated (point and click), but rules of check, etc., are ignored. At pawn promotion the player is asked about promotion piece.

Chess484 (Regroupment Random Chess) (big graphics)

Chess484 (Regroupment Random Chess) (small graphics)


A Zillions program and more information is here.

Note! See also related variant Multi-chess. It is a reduced version that contains 56 non-mirrored positions with both rooks and knights always in their standard positions. A Zillions program and more information is here.


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By M Winther.
Web page created: 2009-05-19. Web page last updated: 2009-05-19