CHESMAYNE
meditate
the uptown, uptempo woman
AZ Monogram Table - Piececlopedia Index
This is a start at
categorizing various chess variant MPs/mps. John William Brown, in his book Meta-Chess, does a fine job both naming and categorizing chess
MPs/mps by extending and expanding on the normative moves from existing and historical chess games. He also introduces the idea of a novelty piece, that is, any piece with
movement capabilities (or other abilities), which fall outside the Meta-Chess graphic conventions. There are many such pieces (perhaps an
infinite number), and it is possible to categorize them to some extent. Below I have attempted to create categories
that describe the various capabilities of such chess variant MPs/mps. I’ve tried to keep descriptions as general
as possible, and provide specific examples where available.
This document is by no means complete or
comprehensive. I would encourage an
effort to build on this, so that a more complete resource would be available to
Chess Variant designers or problemists.
Cardinal Dabbabah Ferz Grasshopper Joker Lion Mao,
Pao, Vao Wazir-Wizard
Ultima
Pieces Lion-02 Alfil Bishopper Bison Bowman Camel Champion
Contragrasshopper Coordinator Eqihopper Friend Giraffe Gnus Immoblizer
Leo Long
Leaper Moa Nightrider Non Stop Equhopper Orphan
Rose
Scorpion
Sissa Squirrel Ubi-Ubi
Withdrawer Zebra Prince Pawn
Soucie
Amazon/Empress Archbishop Chancellor Dragon
Mimics Windmill
The size of a MP/mp measures how many cells (or positions) the piece
occupies on the board.
Mono-positional.
A MP/mp that occupies one and only one position.
Multi-positional.
A MP/mp that may occupy more than one position. When another MP/mp displaces one or more of
the positions occupied by the multi-positional piece, the entire
multi-positional piece is captured.
Continuous - a multi-positional piece
that occupies an area of adjacent positions.
A rectangular piece is a
continuous piece that occupies a rectangular set of positions. Such pieces may be said to have a span,
which is an indication of the height and width of the rectangular area they
cover.
Distributed - a multi-positional piece
that does not necessarily occupy one continuous area of positions.
Synchronous - all components of piece
move together.
Asynchronous - different
components can move independently.
The span of a piece represents the
number of cells (or positions) the piece occupies. Ortho-Chess pieces all have a span of 1 x 1,
or simply 1 cell. The Wall from Ganymede Chess, is a multi-positional piece which is rectangular and has a span of 1 x 2,
that is, it occupies a 1 cell high, by 2 cells wide area. MPs/mps with a span of more than 1 x 1
typically can capture more than one piece on a turn, but are also more easily
attacked since a displacement on any of their occupied cells results in their
capture.
Another piece, the ooze (my own invention), is a
multi-positional, continuous piece that moves like a KI. However, it may also ‘ooze’ instead of
moving. An ooze move is simply growing
the piece by one adjacent position.
Oozing to a cell occupied by an enemy piece captures that piece. The ooze is an example of a multi-positional
piece, which is of variable
size.
The Complexity of a piece describes
how many ways the piece can move, and possibly how those different moves are
combined. There are two basic
categories here:
Simple
|
A piece
which has only one (primitive) type of move.
Examples of this type of piece are the Bishop, Rook and Knight of orthodox chess. |
Compound
|
A piece
which has a movement capability that is a combination of 2 or more simple pieces. This term was coined in Meta-Chess. Here, however, I intend to expand on this
term. There are two flavors of
Compound pieces: Exclusive: An Exclusive Compound
piece has the option, on any one move, of moving as one and only one of it’s
component piece moves (eg. a Cardinal may move
either as a Bishop or as a Knight). Pieces which have a
different way of capturing than they have of moving without capturing, we
might call Divergent (after Divergent Chess, where such pieces are used exclusively. Inclusive: An Inclusive Compound
piece has the option, on any one move, of moving as one or more of its
component piece moves. Such pieces
tend to be extremely powerful and should be used with care. eg. a Super Cardinal may
move either as a Bishop or as a Knight, or may move
first as a BS followed by a KT move (in the same direction), or may move
first as a KT followed by a BS move (in the same direction). |
The variability of a piece describes how the capabilities of a piece vary (or don’t
vary) over the course of a game.
Generally, pieces are assigned a movement capability which they keep
throughout the entire game. However
there are many pieces which have movement capabilities which change throughout
a game.
Static
|
A piece that
does not change it’s movement capabilities during the course of a game (eg. Rook, Bishop, Knight and Queen from
orthodox chess). |
Dynamic |
A piece that
changes its movement capabilities during the course of a game. Mimic: A detailed discussion of Mimics can be found here. An example of a Mimic would be the Joker or Orphan. Alternator: An Alternator has two (or more) movement capabilities, alternating
between them according to some pattern (eg. Flip
chess pieces or Chameleon used in
Fairy Chess problems). Adaptor: An Adaptor changes its movement capabilities based on where it is
on the board. For examples of
Adaptors, see Big Outer Chess. Promoter: A Promotor becomes another piece (typically more powerful in some
way) after meeting some predefined condition (eg. Pawn). Singular: A singular piece has one special move that may be taken once per
game (eg. a PAs double cell move (FMO)
or KIs Castling - %K, %Q). |
Movement/Capture
properties. Some of the following terms
are taken from D. B. Pritchard’s Encyclopedia of Chess Variants.
Rider |
Moves from its
current cell to a destination cell given a specified path (typically in a
straight line), which must be clear of pieces. We might call Riders that move in a
straight line, Straight Riders,
and other riders that do not, Curve
Riders. An example of a Curve
Rider is the Rose, or the Windmill. Straight Rider examples are: Rook, Bishop and Nightrider. |
Leaper |
Moves from its
current cell to a destination cell given a specified path. Pieces along the path do not necessarily
block it. Leapers may be further
subdivided into the following: Generic Leapers: may leap
over both friendly and hostile pieces. |
Hopper |
Moves from
its current square to a destination cell given a specified path (typically in
a straight line). There must be a
certain number of intervening pieces between the source and destination
cells. eg. Cannon, Grasshopper |
Directional |
A Directional piece is restricted
based on which direction it is attempting to move. Such restrictions may apply to how far it
may move, what type of move it may make, or even whether it may capture or
not. eg. the orthodox chess PA,
or the Spearman from Centennial Chess. Also take a look at the
various “Spear” pieces used in Pick-the-team Chess. |
Kinetic pieces are able to effect other pieces in some way
other than capturing. The number and
types of Kinetic pieces are only limited by the imagination, so the following
classifications are not even close to covering all the possibilities.
Kinetics may be latent or active. A latent Kinetic piece may
effect other pieces without having to take any action, whereas an active
Kinetic requires the some sort of move to be made with the piece.
Restrictor |
Restricts
the movement of pieces that are in a certain relative position. The Immobilizer from Ultima is an
example of a Restrictor. |
Mobilizer
|
Changes the positions
of other pieces. The Mobilizer may be further subdivided into: Attractor: Pulls other pieces towards itself.
For an example of an Attractor, see the game Magnetic Chess. In this game, practically all the pieces
are Attractors (and Repulsers too). Repulser: Pushes other pieces away from itself. For an example of a Repulser, see the Ox
piece in Dragons, Archers & Oxen. Spinner: Rotates other pieces around itself. For an example of a Spinner, see the
Spider piece in Ben 39. Transposer: Swaps places with another piece.
For an example of such a piece, see the Humming Bird of Typhoon. |
Transporter |
This is a
piece which enables other pieces to move in ways they normally could not
move. Transporters typically are able to cohabitate a position with another piece. Teleporters are Transporters which
work in coordination with other Transporters to allow other pieces to move
between the positions of two or more of the Transporters. For an example of a
Teleporter type piece, take a look at the Transporter piece in Dragons, Archers & Oxen. Also see Ben 39 and its Wizard piece. For an example of a
Transporter that is not a Teleporter, see the Disk in Vyrémorn Chess. Another interesting piece is the Dervish from Scirocco. |
Displacer |
A Displacer captures a piece by
occupying the cell that the captured piece occupies. All orthodox chess pieces are
Displacers. Displacers can further be
broken down into Singular and
Multiple. Multiple Displacers are able to capture
more than one piece in a single turn (eg. the Cicada from Typhoon). |
Implicator
|
An Implicator captures in some other
way than moving onto the cell of an enemy piece. Pieces from the game Ultima tend to fall
into this category. Detonator: Captures by “exploding”.
This results in one of more pieces in certain relative positions being
captured. Typically the piece itself
is also captured. (eg. the Bomb
from Bomberman Chess). Ranger: Captures at a distance (eg. the Bowman, or the Archer in Jester Chess). Coordinator: captures by forming (in concert with other pieces) a pattern
relative to the piece to be captured.
(eg. the Pincer pawn or Coordinator from Ultima). Overtaker: captures by leaping over an enemy piece in some way (eg. the Long Leaper from Ultima). Relator: captures by changing its position relative to an enemy piece in a
certain way (eg. Withdrawer from Ultima). Converter: is able to convert an enemy piece to a friendly piece (eg. the Cuckoo from Typhoon). |
Index: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
§
Alfil. Jumps two diagonally.
§
Alibaba. Jumps two orthogonally or diagonally.
§
Amazon. Can move as queen or as knight.
§
Antelope. Makes (3,4)-jump.
§
Archbishop. Moves as bishop but can make reflection at
side of board.
·
Vao
moves like bishop but must jump when taking.
See also: List of fairy
pieces, compiled by Frank Truelove.
Contributions by Hans
Bodlaender, Ben
Good, David
Howe, and others. Provide feedback
on this page!
The ‘keywords’ below may be found in this dictionary
PEOPLE
ABRAHAMS
GERALD........................22:01
ABU ‘L-FATH AHMAD
AS-SINJARI...........22:02
ADAMS
MICHAEL..........................22:03
ADIANTO
UTUT...........................22:04
ALADDIN................................22:05
AL-‘ADLI
AR-RUMI.......................22:06
ALEKHINE
ALEXANDROVICH.................22:07
ALEXANDER CONEL HUGH
O'DONEL...........22:08
ALFONSO THE
WISE.......................22:09
AL-ALDI................................22:10
ALLGAIER JOHANN
BAPTIST................22:11
ANDERSSEN
ADOLF........................22:12
AR-RAZI................................22:13
AR-SULI................................22:14
ASPERLING..............................22:15
ATWOOD GEORGE..........................22:16
AVERBAKH YURI
LVOVICH..................22:17
BACHMANN LUDWIG ERNST
AUGUST...........22:18
BARCZA
SYSTEM..........................22:19
BARDELEBEN CURT
VON....................22:20
BENKO
GAMBIT...........................22:21
BENONI
DEFENCE.........................22:22
BERGER JOHANN
NEPOUMUK.................22:23
BERTIN
JOSEPH..........................22:24
BIRD HENRY
EDWARD......................22:25
BLACKBURNE JOSEPH
HENRY................22:26
BLEDOW LUDWIG ERDMANN..................22:27
BODEN SAMUEL
STANDIDGE.................22:28
BOI
PAOLO..............................22:29
BOLESLAVSKY ISSAK
YEFREMOVICH..........22:30
BOTVINIK MIKHAIL
MOISEYEVICH...........22:31
BOURDONNAIS LOUIS CHARLES DE
LA........22:32
BROINSTEIN DAVID
IONOVICH..............22:33
CAMPOMANES
FLORENCIO...................22:34
CAPABLANCA JOSE
RAOUL..................22:35
CARRERA
PIETRO.........................22:36
CARO-KANN..............................22:37
CAXTON WILLIAM.........................22:38
CERIANI
LUIGI..........................22:39
CESSOLE JACOPO
DA......................22:40
CESSOLIS JACOBUS
DE....................22:41
CHERON
ANDRE...........................22:42
CHICCO
ADRIANO.........................22:43
CHIGORIN MIKHAIL IVANOVICH.............22:44
CLARKE RICHARD WILLIAM
BARNES..........22:45
COOK EUGENE
BEAUHARNAIS................22:46
CROSSKILL
ALFRED.......................22:47
CZERNIAK
MOSHE.........................22:48
DAMIANO................................22:49
DAWSON THOMAS
RAYNER...................22:50
DE
GROOT...............................22:51
DESCHAPELLES
ALEXANDRE.................22:52
DE VERE
CECIL..........................22:53
DILARAM’S ++CM (FIRDEWSI
AT-TAHIHAL)....22:54
DUFRESNE JEAN..........................22:55
DURAND PHILIPPE
AMBROISE...............22:56
DUCHAMP
MARCEL.........................22:57
LESECHECS AMOUREUX (JOHN
LYDGATE)......22:58
EON (CHEVALIER
D’EON)..................
22:59
ERCOLE DEL RIO
DOMENICO................22:60
EUGENE DE BEAUHARNAIS..................22:61
EUWE MACHGIELIS
MAX....................22:62
EVANS WILLIAM
DAVIES...................22:63
EVERGREEN GAME
(ANDERSSEN-DUFRESNE)....22:64
EZRA ABRAHAM BEN MEIR
IBN..............22:65
FENG-HSIUNG
HSU........................22:66
FISCHER
BOBBY..........................22:67
FORSYTH NOTATION (DAVID
FORSYTH).......22:68
FRANKLIN
BENJAMIN......................22:69
GAME OF THE CENTURY (BOBBY
FISCHER)....22:70
GELLER YEFIM
PETROVICH.................22:71
GOLOMBEK HARRY.........................22:72
GRINGMUTH NOTATION (D.A.
GRINGMUTH)....22:73
GRUNFELD
ERNST.........................22:74
HARUN
AR-RASHID........................22:75
HIPPARCHUS.............................22:77
HOBSON’S
CHOICE........................22:78
HOMER..................................22:79
HOUYHNHNM
(SWIFT)......................22:80
HYDE
THOMAS............................22:81
ICTINUS................................22:82
KARPOV
ANATOLY.........................22:83
KASPAROV
GARY..........................22:84
KEENE
RAYMOND..........................22:85
KEMPELEN BARON
WOLFGANG................22:86
KERES
PAUL.............................22:87
KIESERITZKY
LIONEL.....................22:88
KIPPING
CYRIL..........................22:89
KORCHNOI VIKTOR........................22:90
KRYLENKO
NIKOLAI.......................22:91
LANGE
MAX..............................22:92
LASKER
EMANUEL.........................22:93
LEIBNIZ WILLIAM
GOTTFRIED..............22:94
LE JOUEUR D'ECHES (RAYMOND
BERNARD)....22:95
LEVY
DAVID.............................22:96
LOPEZ
RUY..............................22:97
LOUIS
XIV..............................22:98
LUCENA LUIS
RAMIREZ....................22:99
MENCHIK
VERA...........................22:100
MILES ANTHONY..........................22:101
NAPOLEON...............................22:102
NIEMEIJER
MEINDERT.....................22:103
NIMZO-INDIAN (ARON
NIMZOWITSCH)........22:104
PAULSEN
LOUIS..........................22:105
PETROSIAN
TIGRAN.......................22:106
PHIDIAS................................22:107
PHILIDOR
FRANCOIS-ANDRE................22:108
POLGAR
JUDITH..........................22:109
QUEEN OF
SHEBA.........................22:110
ROXELANA...............................22:111
SALADIN................................22:112
SAMSON.................................22:113
SAMURAI................................22:114
SARRATT
HENRY..........................22:115
SCHEHERAZADE...........................22:116
SCHIFFERS
EMANUEL......................22:117
SCHMID LOTHAR..........................22:118
SELENUS
GUSTAVUS.......................22:119
SHAKESPEARE............................22:120
SHANNON
CLAUDE.........................22:121
SOLOMON................................22:123
SPASSKY BORIS..........................22:124
SPEELMAN
JON...........................22:125
STAMMA
PHILIP..........................22:126
STAUNTON
HOWARD........................22:127
STEINITZ
WILHELM.......................22:128
TAL
MIKHAIL............................22:129
TAMBURLAINE............................22:130
TARRASCH
SIEGBERT......................22:131
TIMMAN JAN
HENDRIK.....................22:132
TIMUR..................................22:133
TINSLEY
MARION.........................22:134
TRADITIONAL
CHESS......................22:135
TURING
ALLEN...........................22:136
UEDEMANN CODE (LOUIS
UEDEMANN).........22:137
VIDA MARCO GEROLAMO
MARCUS.............22:138
VON....................................22:139
WENCESLAUS.............................22:140
WINDSOR................................22:141
WOMEN..................................22:142
WORLD
CHAMPIONS........................22:143
XIE
JUN................................22:144
XP.....................................22:145
YAHWEH
YHWH............................22:146
ABELARD-HELOISE -
LORD-LADY............22:147
ALEXANDRIAN............................22:148
ANAND
VISWANATHAN......................22:149
BLIND
CHESS............................22:150
BOYER
JOSEPH...........................22:151
BOTVINNIK MIKHAIL......................22:152
BUCHOLZ
BRUNO..........................22:153
CHAMPOLLION FRANCOIS
JEAN..............22:154
CHIGORIN
MIKHAIL.......................22:155
CLEOPATRA..............................22:156
COOK EUGENE
BEAUHARNAIS................22:157
DALAI
LAMA.............................22:158
DUCHAMP
MARCEL.........................22:159
EFIM BOGOLYUBOV
(1889-1952)............22:160
EINSTEIN...............................22:161
FEMME
FATALE...........................22:162
GATES BILL.............................22:163
GILGAMESH..............................22:164
HAILE
SELASSIE.........................22:165
HOYLE..................................22:166
IGNATIUS LOYOLA
SJ.....................22:167
IMHOTEP................................22:168
INTEL GRAND
PRIX.......................22:169
JOSEPHUS
FLAVIUS.......................22:170
JUNG...................................22:171
KING MARTIN LUTHER
JUNIOR..............22:172
LANCE..................................22:173
LAU. H.T...............................22:174
LORDS versus
COMMONS...................22:175
MAGI...................................22:176
MAIMONIDES.............................22:177
MARSHALL
FRANK.........................22:178
NEFERTARI (Queen)......................22:179
NIMZOWITSCH
ARON.......................22:180
PEOPLE.................................22:181
SARAH..................................22:182
SULEYMAN, THE
MAGNIFICENT..............22:183
TATTERSALL.............................22:184
TUTANKHAMUM............................22:185
ZUSE
KONRAD............................22:186
ABSOLUTE
CHAMPION......................22:187
ALLEN
GEORGE...........................22:188
ARCH PRIEST OF THE
HYPERMODERNS........22:189
GREEK
ALPHABET.........................22:190
HYPERMODERN............................22:191
ISRAEL.................................22:192
KMOCH JOHANN
JOSEPH....................22:193
LIVING
CHESS...........................22:194
MEREDITH...............................22:195
MIAMI CAPABLANCAS......................22:196
NATIONAL CHESS
DAY.....................22:197
NATIONAL
MASTER........................22:198
RUSSIA.................................22:199
VERA MENCHIK
CLUB......................22:200