Quatrochess

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14a14 k rb14 B rc14 c rd14 r re14 p rf14g14h14i14j14 black pawnk14 black rookl14 black queenm14 black upside-down rookn14 black king14
13a13 m rb13 N rc13 G rd13 n re13 p rf13g13h13i13j13 black pawnk13 black knightl13 black giraffem13 N dn13 B d13
12a12 q rb12 G rc12 N rd12 a re12 p rf12g12h12i12j12 black pawnk12 black bishopl12 N dm12 black giraffen12 black empress12
11a11 r rb11 n rc11 b rd11 b re11 p rf11g11h11i11j11 black pawnk11 black bishopl11 black princessm11 black knightn11 black rook11
10a10 p rb10 p rc10 p rd10 p re10 f rf10g10h10i10j10 black upside-down kingk10 black pawnl10 black pawnm10 black pawnn10 black pawn10
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5a5 white pawnb5 white pawnc5 white pawnd5 white pawne5 white upside-down kingf5g5h5i5j5 f gk5 p gl5 p gm5 p gn5 p g5
4a4 white rookb4 white knightc4 white princessd4 white bishope4 white pawnf4g4h4i4j4 p gk4 b gl4 b gm4 n gn4 r g4
3a3 white empressb3 white giraffec3 N ld3 white bishope3 white pawnf3g3h3i3j3 p gk3 a gl3 N gm3 G gn3 q g3
2a2 B lb2 N lc2 white giraffed2 white knighte2 white pawnf2g2h2i2j2 p gk2 n gl2 G gm2 N gn2 m g2
1a1 white kingb1 white upside-down rookc1 white queend1 white rooke1 white pawnf1g1h1i1j1 p gk1 r gl1 c gm1 B gn1 k g1
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Quatrochess gameboard and starting position. In the diagram, standard pieces have their usual representations, as well as fairy pieces chancellor, archbishop and giraffe. A mann is represented by an inverted king, wazir by inverted rook, ferz by inverted bishop, camel by inverted knight

Quatrochess is a chess variant for four players invented by George R. Dekle Sr. in 1986.[1][2] It is played on a square 14×14 board that excludes the four central squares. Each player controls a standard set of sixteen chess pieces, and additionally nine fairy pieces. The game can be played in partnership (two opposing teams of two) or all-versus-all.

Quatrochess was included in World Game Review No. 10 edited by Michael Keller.[3]

Game rules

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The illustration shows the starting setup. White moves first and play proceeds clockwise around the board. Teammates sit in opposite corners in partnership games.

The squareless center may not be moved to or through; however, it may be jumped over by pieces that leap (knight, chancellor, archbishop, camel, and giraffe). The king, queen, rook, bishop, knight, and pawn move and capture as they do in chess. Each player's eight pawns are divided into two groups of four: one group moves forward along files, the other along ranks. As in chess, pawns have an initial two-step option, en passant is possible, and promotion occurs at the board's end. There is no castling in Quatrochess.

Fairy piece moves

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The fairy pieces all capture the same as they move:

  • The chancellor moves as a chess rook and knight.
  • The archbishop moves as a chess bishop and knight.
  • The mann moves as a chess king, but has no royal power.
  • The wazir moves one step orthogonally in any direction.
  • The ferz moves one step diagonally in any direction.
  • The camel leaps in a (1,3) pattern like an elongated knight's move. It jumps over any intervening men.
  • The giraffe leaps in a (1,4) pattern like an elongated knight's move. It jumps over any intervening men.

Winning

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When a player is checkmated or stalemated, his king is immediately removed from the game and his remaining men become the property of the player delivering the mate or stalemate (all-versus-all game), or of his teammate (partnership game). The last surviving player (or team) is the winner.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Pritchard (1994), pp. 244–45
  2. ^ Pritchard (2007), p. 316
  3. ^ Keller, Michael, ed. (June 1991). "A Panorama of Chess Variants". World Game Review. No. 10. Michael Keller. ISSN 1041-0546.

Bibliography