Captain's Chess

Captain's Chess is an expansion of orthodox Chess onto a 9x8 board. The initial setup for the players uses rotation symmetry (rather than the typical mirror symmetry). Bishops, rooks, and pawns promote on each player's eighth rank. Rules for promotion, winning conditions, and castling are modified.

Setup

Pieces

The only new piece in the initial setup is the Captain (C), which moves like a Knight + Wazir compound. That is, in addition to moving as a Knight, it can also step one square horizontally or vertically.

Bishops automatically promote to Crowned Bishops on each player's eighth rank. They are Bishop + Wazir compounds.

Rooks automatically promote to Crowned Rooks on each player's eighth rank. They are Rook + Ferz compounds.

Rules

• The game is played on a checkered 9x8 board instead of an 8x8 board. White's left corner square is black.
• When castling, the King slides 3 squares to either side and the Rook moves to the other side, subject to the usual restrictions.
• Pawns promote only to Captains. This happens on the player's eighth rank.
• Bishops promote to Crowned Bishops on the player's eighth rank, getting the additional ability to step one square horizontally or vertically.
• Rooks promote to Crowned Rooks on the player's eigth rank, getting the additional ability to step one square diagonally.
• One loses the game by being mated, being reduced to bare king, or being without legal moves.

Last revised by H. G. Muller.