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Rich Hutnik wrote on Thu, Mar 27, 2008 02:13 AM UTC:
Hello George.  Thank you for the comments.  I would to comment on what you wrote:
1. I am sure drops, in all their glory, are not new, even drops into a zone.  I do like the term 'back-rank gating' to describe how Seirawan and IAGO Chess do it.  Seirawan is an optional version twist of what is actually in the commercial Chess variant Bosworth.  What is done here with IAGO Chess is try to have the rules acknowledge this, and have a default position of providing a restricted version of drops and gating.  I will say it is NOT new.  It is just done there, with B-Class IAGO Chess as a way to acclimate people to it.  On this, it should be noted that B-Class isn't the only version, and it is NOT meant to say that one can't use a larger board.  It is just the natural next step off standard chess, that makes for a readily available board, and the need to just add two new pieces (I would go with the Empress/Amazon) as a third, to cover the M-Class version.  This is meant as a STARTING point. 

Let me add here regarding what the back-rank gating and drops in IAGO Chess provides (Seirawan, at this point, appears to be a strictly as is, and not to be changed):
A. It allows for players to experiment with new pieces.
B. It allows a handicapping system currently missing from chess.  By using this version of gating, one could then mix up the reserves what pieces can come into the game.  You don't change your default position on the board, BUT you are able to change it in the reserve.
C. Rules governing how drops and gating in IAGO Ches can be modified per each variant in it.  Some could get rid of both.  Others can use one or the other.  And other rules can even change how either or both work, making gating or drops restricted to a single space, or having gating tied to a piece in particular, that acts as a transport vehicle.

2. In regards to switching, which recently popped up in Reformed Chess with pawns, I am fully in favor of it as a Mutator that can be used in V-Class (or possibly M-Class).  It is a great thing to add to mix things up.  I don't believe it should be codified though.  I also believe you can play a version of chess where it may or may not be in the game.

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