PASSED PAWNS CHESS
(A Decimal
Falcon Chess Variant)
GAME RULES
- All orthodox
Falcon Chess rules apply except no pawn double step.
- Free castling here is to b4, c4, e4, or f4 on one side; h4 or i4 with the
other Rook.
- Promotion is to Rook, Knight, Bishop or Falcon, as in orthodox Falcon chess.
White pawns promote at rank 10 only, Black at rank 1 only.
- Object is to checkmate King.
INITIAL ARRAY
10 * * * * * * * * * *
9 * * * * * * * * * *
8 * * * * * * * * * *
7 R N B Q F F K B N R
6 p p p p p p p p p p
5 Bp Bp Bp Bp Bp Bp Bp Bp Bp Bp
4 BR BN BB BQ BF BF BK BB BN BR
3 * * * * * * * * * *
2 * * * * * * * * * *
1 * * * * * * * * * *
a b c d e f g h i j
STRATEGY
Once any pawn b through i moves, (An adjacent piece must have moved
first) an opposing Falcon may be able to slide through to that side of board
from the initial set-up. Once a pawn 'a' or 'j' (or 'c' or 'h') clears out,
opponent's Knight has a route from its array position without having to capture.
Notice that there can never be a move 'PxP', although strictly that is not in the
rules. Good strategy takes delicate balance among promoting Pawns in just four
steps, protecting King, and going to the close half of board to attack.
Variant: 8x8 Passed Pawns Chess
In this case, the best piece mix and array is NFBKRBFN as:
8 * * * * * * * *
7 * * * * * * * *
6 N F B K R B F N
5 p p p p p p p p
4 Bp Bp Bp Bp Bp Bp Bp Bp
3 BN BF BB BK BR BB BF BN
2 * * * * * * * *
1 * * * * * * * *
a b c d e f g h
No castling. Promotion as usual to Knight, Bishop, Falcon or Rook. Note that
Pawns promote in just three squares, but after one or two it is not easy.
[Falcon Chess based on US Patent 5690334]
Last modified: Sunday, April 1, 2012
