Enter Your Reply The Comment You're Replying To Joe Joyce wrote on Wed, May 21, 2008 02:56 AM UTC:This topic has been thrashed out before, most recently that I remember here: http://chessvariants.wikidot.com/forum/t-7708/chess-variants The most complete answer was given by David Howe. I reproduce the key part here, and recommend those interested to look at the wiki. It has far more on this topic in various places. The 'Chess' family of games DavidHoweDavidHowe 17 Apr 2007, 13:04 -0-400 What is the nature of the game of chess, and what makes a game a chess variant? Here is my opinion: 'Chess', in the widest sense (ie. in the sense of a family of games), has certain properties: 1. ... 9. It is a game that involves two classes of pieces, 'royal' and 'non-royal'. The winning condition of the game is to capture or checkmate one or more of the royal pieces. It is interesting to note, that the game of checkers, has the same [9] properties, except for the last. I believe it is this last property that differentiates chess from other non-chess games (such as checkers). ... Edit Form You may not post a new comment, because ItemID Tzaar a CV? does not match any item.