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Steven Streetman wrote on Mon, Nov 8, 2010 05:30 PM UTC:
I continued to analyze, test and speculate about the relative value of Spartan Chess pieces when Mr. Muller wrote: ------------------------ “As to the piece values: I did several tests, and came out approximately as I expected: *) C ~ N *) G+C > Q *) G <~ B+B+P *) K > B+P *) K <~ R” ------------------------ Note: C=Captain, G=General, K=Spartan King and of course N=Knight, Q=Queen, B=Bishop, P=pawn My thoughts using these values: pawn= 1 Knight=3 Bishop= 3.25 Rook=5 Queen=9 I take only some liberties, I believe, and arrive at this.... Captain C ~ N therefore C ~ 3 or C = 3 General G <~ B+B+P (3.25+3.25+1=7.5) therefore G <~ 7.5 G + C (?+3) > Q (9) therefore G > 6 therefore G ~ 7.25 Related note Sarratt 1813 put rook at 5 and king at 2.2 Extra Spartan King and providing immunity from simple check K > B+P (3.25+1=4.25) K <~ R (5) therefore 5 >~ K > 4.25 therefore K is more than 4.25 and about or a bit less than 5 therefore K is around 4.75 Warlord With Q=9 we are figuring a value of around 8.25 for the Warlord if I am not mistaken. Synopsis C = 3 G = 7.25 K = 4.75 W = 8.25 Well, not mathematically perfect but these numbers do square with my feelings. To the extent these figures are useful this leaves the matter of the Lieutenant and the hoplite. Lieutenant My guts have told me this figure is worth around 3.1 to 3.2 points and I have absolutely nothing substantial to back this up. Perhaps a lower value is justified. hoplite I ran some tests with 8 pawns + King vs. 8 hoplites + King and the pawns get the better of the game. The pawns are usually able to breakthrough and promote first. I am about to put some of the minor pieces back into the game and expect the hoplites do better in the context of being supported by their jumping Spartan minor pieces. What I have observed in an end game; with only few pieces and a few pawns and hoplites on the board, the hoplites fare better. In general, the emptier the board the stronger the hoplites become with their superior mobility and threat to promote.