New task for H.G. Muller if Winboard does not already support this
http://www.erblist.com/abg/jetan.html
http://www.chessvariants.com/other.dir/jetan.html
The Chessmen of Mars
Moderator: Ras
-
FrancoisK
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:46 pm
The Chessmen of Mars
Anyone tried this ? Any known program already playing Barsoomian chess ?
New task for H.G. Muller if Winboard does not already support this
http://www.erblist.com/abg/jetan.html
http://www.chessvariants.com/other.dir/jetan.html
New task for H.G. Muller if Winboard does not already support this
http://www.erblist.com/abg/jetan.html
http://www.chessvariants.com/other.dir/jetan.html
-
hgm
- Posts: 28354
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2006 10:06 am
- Location: Amsterdam
- Full name: H G Muller
Re: The Chessmen of Mars
No, this is not implemented in WinBoard yet. 
One reason is that the crooked multi-path type of motion of some of the pieces is beyond the capacity of Fairy-Max, so I would have no engine to play it. At least, if I interpret the description correctly; I suppose that moving three squares in any combination of horizontal and vertical directions means it can do moves like up-left-down or up-right-up etc. Fairy-Max can do two-step move of this type (to implement the Xiangqi Horse and Elephant), but not three.
Lately I discovered another variant, not from as far away as this one, but still from pretty far: Thai Chess, also known as Makruk. I think I will add that to the next version of WinBoard. Ths is easy, since it does not deviate that much from normal Chess, and even less from the already supported Shatranj. It is played on an 8x8 board, and the main peculiarity is that promotion occurs on the 6th rank rather than on the 8th. The initial position is:
[d] rnbqkbnr/8/pppppppp/8/8/PPPPPPPP/8/RNBKQBNR w
The Makruk-Queen moves one step diagonal (like in Shatranj), and all promotions are to such a Queen. The Makruk-Bishop moves one step diagonal, or one step straight ahead (like the Silver General of Shogi). The other pieces are normal, and also the mate and stalemate rules are as in normal Chess.
With a minor adaptation, Fairy-Max can play this game, which is played by 2 million Thai!
One reason is that the crooked multi-path type of motion of some of the pieces is beyond the capacity of Fairy-Max, so I would have no engine to play it. At least, if I interpret the description correctly; I suppose that moving three squares in any combination of horizontal and vertical directions means it can do moves like up-left-down or up-right-up etc. Fairy-Max can do two-step move of this type (to implement the Xiangqi Horse and Elephant), but not three.
Lately I discovered another variant, not from as far away as this one, but still from pretty far: Thai Chess, also known as Makruk.
I think I will add that to the next version of WinBoard. Ths is easy, since it does not deviate that much from normal Chess, and even less from the already supported Shatranj. It is played on an 8x8 board, and the main peculiarity is that promotion occurs on the 6th rank rather than on the 8th. The initial position is:[d] rnbqkbnr/8/pppppppp/8/8/PPPPPPPP/8/RNBKQBNR w
The Makruk-Queen moves one step diagonal (like in Shatranj), and all promotions are to such a Queen. The Makruk-Bishop moves one step diagonal, or one step straight ahead (like the Silver General of Shogi). The other pieces are normal, and also the mate and stalemate rules are as in normal Chess.
With a minor adaptation, Fairy-Max can play this game, which is played by 2 million Thai!