George Duke wrote on Wed, Oct 8, 2008 10:45 PM UTC:
''Analyze the motion of a smooth flat coin rolling inside the rough
surface of a hollow ellipsoid balanced on the back of a hemispherical
tortoise ambling at constant speed straight up a hill of uniform gradient
on Saturn, of Sol.'' Piece values of Hoppers, requiring screen for
moving or capturing, or both, fluctuate (more so than other piece-types)
according to how many units on board. We cannot settle for range of values
like 5.0 to 5.5. Even mindful of advantage of loss of exchange for that
Pawn-positional edge or unreckoned combination exotic pieces, including
all Hoppers except Cannon, may spring upon the unwary. Most problem-theme
Hoppers have never appeared in CV, but do not expect they never will. They
would not need piece-values in Problems. This has changed, as has the ethos
of the 20th-century chess heterody, captured in spirit in Jeliss'
glossary. Their Hoppers appeared in more or less set-up problems, asking what is the
best move? Or only move.