Smess, described as the Ninny's Chess, is sort of a simplified version of
Chess for children, though adults can enjoy it too. It is a much simpler
game to learn than Chess, because arrows on the board indicate which
directions pieces can move, and the object is simply to capture a piece
called the Brain. So young players don't have to remember how different
pieces move, and they don't have to comprehend the concept of checkmate.
Young children can be given the game and start playing it with only
minimal instruction. Smess was a commercial game which Parker Brothers
put out in the 1970's, and the design of the board and pieces is one
which can appeal to children and to the young at heart. The squares had
different shapes and sizes of arrows, and squares were placed on the
board as though they were unevenly placed tiles. The pieces are funny
looking and have silly names. Ninny, Numskull, and Brain. So the game is
easy to learn and fun to look at. Besides this, it is, like Chess, a
challenging game of wits. It's a simple game, but against a good
opponent, it's also a difficult game. It's also good for stimulating
original thinking among veteran Chess players, because the game is so
different from what veteran Chess and Chess variant players are used to.
If you're the sort of Chess variant player who likes something really
different, give Smess a try.
