The following are readers' comments and ratings for the page Twenty-First Century Chess.
| Date | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Jun 2001 | None | Since no Twenty-first Century chess sets are commercially available, those wanting to play will have to make up their own set. I used Kings with the cross cut off the top and painted red bands about the middle for the Barons. The Jesters just had their tops painted red. For those who prefer a more militaristic set, I would suggest artillery for the Castles, mortar for the Knights, machine guns for the Bishops, helicopter gunships for the Barons, a tank for the Queen, and a commanding officer for the King. A soldier with a flame-thrower or radio would do for the Jester. Pawn promotion could result in a fighter plane carrying tactical nukes. For those who prefer a political battleground, secret service agents would do for the Castles, investigative reporters for the Knights, the Bishops could remain unchanged, ambassadors or diplomats could replace the Barons, the first lady would be the Queen, and the President would be the King. A private detective would serve as the Jester and pawn promotion could result in anything from a professional killer to an IRS auditor. Karl P. Munzlinger |
| 22 May 2001 | Poor | The author's ignorance of the field of chess variants leads, as always, to the belief that the new game will replace all other forms of chess; nor is the author strong at chess, as shown by the idea that FIDE chess is not violent. Capablanca's Chess is very similar, and better because it includes both an Archbishop and a Chancellor. Bad rule: castling across attacked squares. Prevention of castling is important, and is worth sacrificing material to achieve. Nifty idea: the Jester. One never-moved P per game may transform into something a bit more powerful -- an original idea, I think, and one could wring intriguing variations from the theme.
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| 15 May 2001 | Poor | I agree with the previous rater. Also, shouldn't "21st-century" chess pieces have names that are a bit less ...er... medieval? Where are the orbital mind control satellites, the hackers, the rabid fundamentalists, and the IRS? |
| 15 May 2001 | Poor | I really hate the pretentiousness of people who think they have invented the next evolutionary upgrade of Chess. And the name "Twenty-First Century Chess." It hardly gets more pretentious than that. Let the 21st century decide what will be 21st century Chess, as in no one can know what it was until a century from now. If this game is truly the next evolutionary upgrade of Chess, this will be borne out only through the process of natural selection. And that takes time. All it is right now is one mutation among several, very similar to Gothic Chess, Janus Chess, and several others that have already been around for a while. |
Last modified: Sunday, April 1, 2012
