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If you remove ranks 1 and 10 from this variant, you get the same setup as in Daniel Brown's 10x8 variant J-Chess, where the Camels are called Jesters. My TenCubed Chess uses Wizards (Camel+Ferz) and Champions along with the B+N and R+N compounds. I added a comment there giving a mate in four that works even if Wizards are replaced by Camels.
o o o o o o o o o o-3rd row,
U R N B Q K B N R U-2nd row,
A(d1)..C(g1)-1st row (I variant)
o o o o o o o o o o-3rd row,
R N U B Q K B U N R-2nd row,
A(c1)... C(h1)-1st row (II variant)
First of them can be rejected from aesthetic reasons (normal castling impossible). The second has lack. Total of protection of pawns - it is minimal(2x4+2x3+6x1=20). Opening setup from Symchess and Sam Trenholmes` variant for Symchess are the optimal because, the total sum of protection of pawns is maximal(=22) and also all pawns are protected.
NOTE: Symchess has Archbishop-d1 and Chancellor-g1, but the diagrams in the comments show Archbishop-c1 and Chancellor-h1.
Thanks for yours comments about arrangement of a Archbishop and a Chancellor on squares c1 and h1. If we shall arrange them on squares d1 and g1 then,some pawns will be in general without protection. For this reason in my second variant and Sam Trenholmes variant A and C are located on squares c1 and h1.For example: o o o o o o o o o o R N U B Q K B U N R A C In this case pawns protection -1 0 2 2 5 5 2 2 0 1(Ad1, Cg1) o o o o o o o o o o R U N B Q K B N U R A C In this case pawns protection -2 0 2 1 6 6 1 2 0 2(Ad1,Cg1) and some pawns are not protected.In comments I have corrected a technical mistake for first variant setup.
Would it be helpful for me to whip up a Zillions rule file for this game (and all of the variants we have mentioned) to get a feel for how it plays?
- Sam |
Game preset for Symchess .-Central Symmetry: /play/pbm/play.php?game%3DSymchess+with+Central+Symmetry%26settings%3DSymchess+with+Central
/play/pbm/play.php?game%3DSymchess%26settings%3DSymsam
Mirror Symmetry: /play/pbm/play.php?game%3DSymchess%26settings%3DSymchessUnicornGreat
-Central Symmetry: /play/pbm/play.php?game%3DSymchess+with+Central+Symmetry%26settings%3DSymchess+with+Central
Symchess with Fils: /play/pbm/play.php?game%3DSymchess+with+Fils%26settings%3DSymfils
Super version Symchess: /play/pbm/play.php?game%3DSymchess+Complex%26settings%3DComplex
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I also like having the knights and bishops closer to the center. How about:
Where 'c' is the camel (what you called the 'unicorn' in this variant), 'a' is the archbishop (knight + bishop), and 'm' is the Marshall (rook + knight).- Sam