Balbo's game

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Balbo's game board and starting setup

Balbo's game is a chess variant invented by M. [Monsieur] G. Balbo in 1974.[1][2] The chessboard has a novel shape comprising 70 squares, and each player commands a full chess army minus one pawn.

The game was featured in Le Courrier des Echecs magazine, September 1974.

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Game rules

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The starting setup is as shown. All the rules of chess apply, except there is no castling, and promotion squares are specially defined:

  • At the end of the d- through h-files, pawns have normal promotion options.
  • At the end of the c- and i-files, pawns may promote only to a bishop or knight.
  • At the end of the outer four files, pawns may not promote.

References

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  1. ^ Pritchard (1994), p. 16
  2. ^ Pritchard (2007), p. 116

Bibliography

  • Pritchard, D. B. (1994). The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants. Games & Puzzles Publications. ISBN 0-9524142-0-1.
  • Pritchard, D. B. (2007). Beasley, John (ed.). The Classified Encyclopedia of Chess Variants. John Beasley. ISBN 978-0-9555168-0-1.
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