Gothic Chess

Gothic Chess is a chess variant commercially used on the expanded 10 × 8 chessboard.

History

Gothic Chess is a variation of 10 × 8 ( Capablanca ) chess, which is probably based on an idea by Pietro Carrera ( 1617), the gaits of knight, bishop and rook in pairs to form three types of figures on a correspondingly enlarged 10 × 8 chessboard combine. The Henry Bird in 1874 revived idea of José Raúl Capablanca was ( world chess champion from 1921 to 1927 ) and taken up again in 1940 received its final version. Ed Trice changed the grid according to their own optimality criteria and reported to 2001, "Method of playing a variant of chess" in the United States for a patent: This was published under the number US6481716 on 19 November 2002, but on 16 January 2007 extinguished; a corresponding patent application in Europe under number EP1236486 was withdrawn on 3 December 2003. Besides Gothic Chess is available as a 10 × 8 chess variant still the better known in Germany Janus Chess.

Rule additions to the traditional chess

Gothic Chess integrated as a 10x8 chess largely the rules of the traditional chess. Experienced chess players are fundamentally familiar after a week or daily game with new characters and their ways. The following additions are to be observed (in addition to the grid ):

  • It is played on a board with 10x8 ( width by height ) fields
  • There are two types of figures used in addition ( but still no standard symbol - see images a and b): the Registrar (on line e ) - to move as tower or Springer
  • The archbishop (on Line g, Janus or cardinal ) - to move as a knight or bishop

The Gothic Chess grid could formally also of Capablanca Random Chess - be ( in which the respective figure will be drawn according to certain rules ). However, for reasons of patenting it remains excluded from the options 12118.

Game development, strategy, character and value combinations

Gothic Chess strives through its start -up to an initial balance and security of the figures and so to avoid traps during the initial phase.

Even more than with the traditional chess vary this figure values ​​significantly after the match phase and position. Nevertheless, you can be guided by the following, theoretically derived values ​​of two competing models:

  • Ed Trice: Bauer 1, Springer 2.5, 3 runners, Tower 4,75, Archbishop 6.5, Chancellor 8.25, 8.75 lady
  • R. Scharnagl: Bauer 1, Springer 3, rotor 3 ½, Tower 5 ½, 6 ¾ Archbishop, Chancellor 8 ¾, 9 ½ Dame
  • Rough equivalences: B B B ≈ S, S L ≈ B T, B S S ≈ L L, B E E ≈ L T T, B Z ≈ S E, E Z ≈ S S D, B S S S T ≈ L ≈ D

Although the ever-present tactical complications can become a problem for beginners, but the vast majority of players to cope well. Especially in the complex interplay of different figure types arise from repeatedly surprising scenarios. The early exchange of blows between lady does not lead the way in similarly strong players to a higher draw ratio.

Endgame

The Gothic - finals are longer than the comparable playoffs in classical chess. The output is generally transferable. In the other figures of the cardinal, who shall gain even more in the elementary final against the runners could win, at the latest after 72 moves when the 50 - move rule would not apply. King and Cardinal also always wins in 36 moves against King and Knight, although both finals are very difficult to play. The lady can not win against the Cardinal or against the Chancellor ( and otherwise only kings ) in general. Again, there are exceptional positions with up to 31 or 27 trains to secure Matt. The currently longest known is the final. King, Queen and pawn against king and queen with Matt in 268 trains

Chess programs for Gothic Chess

Because of an existing patent in the U.S. for the Gothic Chess It is up to the user in programs of other authors (one time) by hand to set up and possibly save it for further use the grid. Because programmed automatisms were there maybe a license.

All three of the most famous Gothic Chess capable programs play at a high level. The commercial Gothic Vortex also includes an extensive opening and endgame database. It is also available as an attenuated, free trial. The free program ChessV provides, inter alia, numerous 8x8 and 10x8 chess variants, as well as the dedicated especially the Capablanca Random Chess Donationware program SMIRF whose improved bonus version donors reserved. Strong players are able to hit those 10x8 programs.

Cardinal (Catholicism) PGN Capablanca-Random-Chess Chess endgame
274170
de