Check out Symmetric Chess, our featured variant for March, 2024.


[ Help | Earliest Comments | Latest Comments ]
[ List All Subjects of Discussion | Create New Subject of Discussion ]
[ List Latest Comments Only For Pages | Games | Rated Pages | Rated Games | Subjects of Discussion ]

Comments/Ratings for a Single Item

Later Reverse Order EarlierEarliest
Sky ZIP file. Missing description[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]
💡📝Christine Bagley-Jones wrote on Fri, Mar 31, 2023 01:46 AM UTC:

Oh, thanks everyone for fixing the page up, thanks so much.

H.G. said ...

I think this page is also misrepresented in the index: it is mainly a rule description; that it also happens to contain a link to a Zillions file is coincidental.

Yes, you are right, I did this page ages ago and for some reason never did a proper game page, and then it got all these nice comments and I just left it like it is. Maybe sometime I could write a proper game page and add if you want to comment on the game to do it on the 'download the game' page, I dunno lol.


David Paulowich wrote on Mon, Feb 20, 2023 05:33 AM UTC:Good ★★★★

To answer an old question here, Rose Chess (2007) replaces the Knights in Christian Freeling's Grand Chess with Roses. And continues on to add Bishop+Rose and Rook+Rose pieces to the game. My Rose Chess XII (2007) has a Half-Rose and an ordinary Nightrider on a 12x12 board.

For anyone contemplating a really big (16x16) version of this game, I frivolously offer the:

Thirteenleaper: moving from (a1) to (a14) or (f13) or (m6) or (n1).

On a (16x16x16) 3D-board it also leaps (3,4,12) and (4,12,3) and (12,3,4) and so forth.


🕸Fergus Duniho wrote on Sat, Feb 18, 2023 04:38 PM UTC:

I changed the page to use Markdown and reorganized its content.


H. G. Muller wrote on Sat, Feb 18, 2023 02:06 PM UTC in reply to Jean-Louis Cazaux from 12:09 PM:

I suppose that this article, like hundreds of other, fell victim to the wholesale destruction of this website that took place when the display scripts were modified.

I put the entire page within HTML <pre> tags to restore the original layout.

I think this page is also misrepresented in the index: it is mainly a rule description; that it also happens to contain a link to a Zillions file is coincidental.


Jean-Louis Cazaux wrote on Sat, Feb 18, 2023 12:09 PM UTC:

This game looks quite original. Very interesting. I came on this page owing to the ID made by HG. However this page and this game would deserve a small editing. How it is now, the presentation is just terrible, very difficult to read. Too bad. Could that be fixed? It doesn't seem difficult to do.


Carlos Cetina wrote on Thu, Sep 20, 2012 08:02 AM UTC:
Both diagrams have the same opening setup but on different boards: 11x10 and 11x11.

OK. Wait your email.

💡📝Christine Bagley-Jones wrote on Thu, Sep 20, 2012 04:05 AM UTC:
i've updated this again, i think the Threeleapers on the 2nd rank promoting to a Flamingo was too quick, so only Trippers now on 2nd rank. Diagram below shows this start position. And Carlos, the 11x11, is interesting, i'll email you about it. The two diagrams you posted in your earlier post are both the same?

Carlos Cetina wrote on Wed, Sep 19, 2012 07:40 PM UTC:

Regarding the "distorted diagram", I meant to that of my comment posted in October 16, 2009.

Sky's idea is excellent; I just want to see if it would be possible to find an opening setup such as the pieces be placed harmoniously following the basic notion of symmetry and at the same time they "...cannot come in contact with each other, allowing them to start their journey through promotion", as you said.

Given the drawbacks you point out regarding my before proposed setup ["After the Tripper, say on d1, moves to g4, it cannot move forward because the black Tripper on g10 can capture it. And also, the black Tripper on g10 now cannot move. Same with the Tripper on g1, after it moves, it also cannot move forward, because of the black Tripper on d10, which now cannot move too."] what about these other couple of setups?

If again there are drawbacks, maybe it could be solved by switching some pieces.

I would be honored if you post a Sky's Carlos Cetina Variant, but I'm not looking for that. I would be happy if we [you and me] find an opening setup that fulfill both requirements: the yours [pieces cannot come in contact with each other, allowing them to start their journey through promotion] and the mine [pieces placed harmoniously following the basic notion of symmetry].

Sky makes me remember Jörg Knappen's Nachtmahr that also features pieces with awkward moves. Sky and Nachtmahr are related in the sense that both give life to that kind of [hard, tough, uncomfortable, complicated] pieces.


💡📝Christine Bagley-Jones wrote on Wed, Sep 19, 2012 12:21 PM UTC:
Hey Carlos, the diagram doesn't look distorted to me.  Well, i'm not sure about your setup, tell me what you think.  It's all the Trippers on the back rank.

After the Tripper, say on d1, moves to g4, it cannot move forward because the black Tripper on g10 can capture it. And also, the black Tripper on g10 now cannot move.  Same with the Tripper on g1, after it moves, it also cannot move forward, because of the black Tripper on d10, which now cannot move too.

Surely this cannot be good?  The way i have it set up, most pieces cannot come in contact with each other, allowing them to start their journey through promotion.  And the ones that can move and attack (only the Fourleapers), the opposing side has this attack defended.

I note also, where i had 3 Threeleapers and 2 Fourleapers in opening setup, you have 4 Threeleapes and 1 Fourleaper. Is this intended? It is really minor thing though, because the Commuters do promote to Fourleapers.

Anyway, let me know what you think, you have made me look at this more now, and i see something about the opening setup that may need .. fine tunning, curse you, hehe.  It is very difficult to get these pieces in perfect opening setup, because of their awkward moves, so painful, but it is worth it, these pieces are rarely seen and hardly a game plays with them having a major role. If you are happy with a setup, i can always make a 2nd 'Carlos Cetina Variant' if you wish.

Carlos Cetina wrote on Tue, Sep 18, 2012 04:50 PM UTC:
Christine:

I agree that introducing a queen or an alfil/dabbabah would destroy the mood of the game; admit it was a suggestion quite superficial.

Sorry for the distorted diagram; anyway by clicking on the EDIT button it can be seen rightly.

Essentially, what I really like to say is why not to introduce reversed or rotational symmetry in the setup? For example thus:

Do you see any flaw in this setup? Is there any other reason why not to accept it?

I like your ideas but it's hard to me to admit the lack of symmetry in games [like Sky] whose starting setups are not randomized; in these last my likings are inverted: I prefer asymmetric setups regarding one another side.


💡📝Christine Bagley-Jones wrote on Tue, Sep 18, 2012 04:34 AM UTC:
Awhile ago Jeremy Good and Carlos Cetina talked about how there could be flaw in this game because of the piece called the 'Tripper' being able to give check on the 2nd move.

Jeremy said 'it might restrict the nature of opening possibilities too much'.
I agree with this, so i have updated the game to replace the offending 'Tripper' with a 'Threeleaper', which leaves the game pretty much the same but removing the problem of the 2nd move check.

Thanks.

💡📝Christine Bagley-Jones wrote on Sun, Oct 18, 2009 01:00 AM UTC:
hello :))
after white plays h1-e4 black has five diff moves to get out of mate and i believe this is more than enough. After black moves a tripper in front of the king, if white decides the play the same piece again and check black king then black can move their king forward. Now i know in normal chess, moving the king to the 2nd rank on your second move is not good, lol, in this game, it is fine, the king can nicely move up the board because of the nature of the pieces in the game, and the king is a 'strong fighting piece' in this kind of game. Also, it is interesting i thought that there is a mate on the 2nd move hehe.

i tested the game a lot, and didnt find white had any winning advantage.
the idea of this game is to give pieces which are generally seen only in fairy chess problems a field of play. Having pawns in the game makes these pieces very awkward to play, so with no pawns these pieces can freely play without problems associated with pawns, and play they do, surprising well and flowing very happily. the very set up of the pieces actually makes them not come in contact with each other easily in the opening play.

the idea of having a queen in the game i would consider extremely bad because it is too powerful and would destroy the mood of the game, and also a piece that moves like alfil/dababa too strong and would also destroy flow and mood of game.

well i hope this site is going well, i take a look every now and then and of course new games keep getting invented, nice :)

i have been playing 'World of Warcraft' these last few years, what an amazing game :)

kk all the best, bye for now :)

Carlos Cetina wrote on Fri, Oct 16, 2009 06:15 PM UTC:
Jeremy, what about this slight change:

10 m m e c ? k c e m m
 9 . . i e e e e i . .
 8 . . . . . . . . . .
 7 . . . . . . . . . .
 6 . . . . . . . . . .
 5 . . . . . . . . . .
 4 . . . . . . . . . .
 3 . . . . . . . . . .
 2 . . I E E E E I . .
 1 M M E C K ? C E M M
   a b c d e f g h i j

E/e = Tripper 3-3
M/m = Conmuter 4-4
I/i = Threeleaper 3-0
C/c = Fourleaper 4-0
K/k = King
 ?  = piece pendent to determine: another leaper? ...which?; would work there a nightrider or a queen?; why not an alfil/dababa that is also a leaper [2-2, 2-0]?

Jeremy Good wrote on Mon, Sep 28, 2009 05:34 PM UTC:
By playing 1. h1-e4, White threatens to check Black, either at h7 or b7. This forces an immediate response from Black to free the King from being trapped in a smothered mate. Then, Black can not escape check on move 2 should White choose to exercise that option. This state of affairs may indicate a design flaw. Either it might give White an extra advantage (more than first move priority) or it might restrict the nature of opening possibilities too much. If so, perhaps it's possible to remedy the problem with slight changes in the opening setup. If the inventor were present, I might ask her what were some considerations she utilized in creating the aesthetic for the opening setup she chose, so as to stay true to her 'original intent'...

Roberto Lavieri wrote on Mon, Jun 19, 2006 11:35 PM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
I agree

Jeremy Good wrote on Sun, Jun 18, 2006 11:45 PM UTC:Excellent ★★★★★
One of the most original and ingenious games of recent memory. I'm rating this game excellent, but only because there isn't a category for outstanding. You probably will want to try it out to understand its appeal. Watch what zillions does with it and then play it on chess courier.

Joe Joyce wrote on Mon, May 8, 2006 08:01 PM UTC:
You madwoman! The 'great Joe Joyce' indeed. You're embarrassing me. I
thought I was great, grand and Atlantean. ;-) 
I never could take a compliment. Enjoy.

Joe Joyce wrote on Mon, May 8, 2006 06:06 PM UTC:
Thanks. I have to share credit with my son and Fergus, though. Hope you enjoy it. Luck. Joe

💡📝Christine Bagley-Jones wrote on Mon, May 8, 2006 05:03 AM UTC:
thanks to the great Joe Joyce, here is a link to play sky on game courier
/play/pbm/play.php?game%3DSky%26settings%3DSky

💡📝Christine Bagley-Jones wrote on Sat, Jan 14, 2006 04:13 PM UTC:
i can't find the 'root-66' anywhere :)

Doug Chatham wrote on Fri, Jan 6, 2006 05:04 PM UTC:
Me, I'm waiting for someone to get their kicks from a 'root-66' :-)

💡📝Christine Bagley-Jones wrote on Fri, Jan 6, 2006 02:03 AM UTC:
hi andy. actually, it was your american chess that brought my attention to
the squirrel, i had not noticed it before then ... and i love it :)
pretty strong piece though, strong as rook easily. It could only be in sky
as a replacement for rook or alternate option to promote to (fiveleaper ->
rook or squirrel)
Sky is a game for wacked out leapers that normally don't see many games. 
I had to make 'no pawns' for this game to work, and promotion rule.
anyway, if i do another variant, for 'root 65 and 85' leapers, knight
and squirrel could sneak in i guess.
now if someone asks me 'what about the alfil' .. :))

Andy Thomas wrote on Thu, Jan 5, 2006 01:05 AM UTC:
hi christine,
how about the squirrel piece? (like a colonel in american chess)... 
2-0,2-1,2-2

💡📝Christine Bagley-Jones wrote on Wed, Jan 4, 2006 11:08 PM UTC:
David, thanks for info on Rose. i did not realise it was such a strong
piece, and more complex and interesting that i originally thought. i agree
that the 'half rose' is probably more practical.
Jared, thanks also for your info on 65 leaper. Not sure what your sorry
about, am guessing that you think i will be disappointed it is in a game,
but that is ok, i will live with it :)
i'll check out leaping bat chess, thanks again to you both for info.

Jared McComb wrote on Wed, Jan 4, 2006 04:23 PM UTC:
The root-65 leaper is known as the Bat in Leaping/Missing Bat Chess. Sorry.

25 comments displayed

Later Reverse Order EarlierEarliest

Permalink to the exact comments currently displayed.