Chess variants

[Gaith]

So I've been playing a fair amount of chess lately, as it's one of the few games available for the Kindle, and it's gotten me to abstractly wondering about variants on the standard game.

Mostly, I've been ruminating over a chess variant in which a either side can, should it so desire, capture its own pieces. I think of this as "Vulcan Chess", because the needs of the many, etc.

This led me to wiki, which has quite the substantial list of chess variants, some of which are quite bonkers (Checkless chess? Looking-Glass chess - wtf?)

Alas, it doesn't seem that any such variants are available for the Kindle.

Has anyone actually experimented with/played such a variant?

 

[SchwEnt]

This isn't anything for the Kindle or even any computer at all. But I've taken quite a liking to Klingon chess (Klin zha).

It's played on a triangular board with pieces such as the Lancer, the Vanguards, the Fencer, the Blockader, the Swift, the Fliers. Very cool.

I'm surprised there isn't more activity and interest in it.

 

[Knight Templar]

Three person and six person chess can be fun.

Battle chess is a real challenge though it requires some piece preparation.

 

[horatio83]

There is all kind of funky fairy chess stuff but IMO the problem of new pieces is that it makes the game too complex. The beauty of chess is that it is neither as one-dimensional as checkers nor burdened by too many complicated pieces.
The only stuff I sometimes play is Fischer random, i.e. you shuffle the pieces on the back rank to avoid the opening theory of normal chess. It is also practical as you need no extra material, just a die for randomization.
The only fairy chess stuff I found interesting is another variant named after a World Champion, Capablanca Chess. It is 10x8 and includes two new pieces that units the power of the knight and rook respectively the knight and bishop in themselves ... but as I already pointed out above it is too complex for my taste.

 

[E-DUB]

Hexagonal chess can be interesting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexagonal_chess

I've also played on a 10by10 board with the addition of 2 pawns and 2 of a new piece called the "Prince". (This is for each side.)

Princes can move up to three spaces in any direction (think short-range Queens).

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

My brother tried to work out 3 player chess a long time ago.

I can't remember much more than that. The board may have been close to the hexagonal one.

 

[smiki]

There's also this:

And this:

 

[SchwEnt]

I've never tried the multi-person games, but I see 3+ person chess descending into a kind of Risk game...

Alliances, backstabbing, ganging up on one player and then turning on your ally...

Are there rules regarding teams or alliances or is it every player for himself? And if so, how would you know...

 

[EmoBorg]

you can always try the very first version of chess called Chaturanga. it is a 1400 year old game.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

I've been playing chess with friends abroad by postcard (that was back in the stone age, before cell phones were invented ) and since it took so long to get a reply and a countermove, we used to permit up to 3 moves at once with different pieces or 2 with the same piece. This makes the game rather unpredictable and is quite a challenge as it's much harder to anticipate your opponent's moves and build your defense or offense accordingly.

It's no official /canon variation, but fun to play

 

[1001001]

There's always "Live Chess"

Of course, you'd better play very well.

 

[Owain Taggart]

This summer I saw a really cool chess set someone had made using a 3D printer. All of the pieces are telescopes and astronomy related things like binoculars and satellites and observatories. Asked him if he planned on making them and selling them, but no dice.

 

[Mr Silver]

I play chess occasionally, I briefly got into the idea of speed (or bullet) chess, and while I was good at playing for the draw, I would get my ass handed to me on a plate if I tried to win.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

This summer I saw a really cool chess set someone had made using a 3D printer. All of the pieces are telescopes and astronomy related things like binoculars and satellites and observatories. Asked him if he planned on making them and selling them, but no dice.

There's no dice in chess......unless there's a variant

 

[Owain Taggart]

There's no dice in chess......unless there's a variant

Hehe, I see what you did there I almost cried a little inside when I heard he wasn't going to produce more.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

there's this modelling clay you can bake in the oven - I'm not sure what the brand name would be in your respective countries (Fimo in Germany & Austria, Sculpay in the US). It's available in a very wide range of colours.
You could make your own sets, for example ST vs Star Wars (with Redshirts / clone soldiers for pawns) or nurses/doctors (white) vs lawyers (black clad) or insects vs mammals or whatever combination you prefer.
This way everyone can have a set of chess that is absolutely unique

 

[Starkers]

There's always "Live Chess"

Of course, you'd better play very well.

Which was clearly an homage to Speed Chess from blakes 7

http://youtu.be/7yN_MJMLMeA