Chess Information
The basic chess pieces haven't changed much for hundreds of years. However, emerging variants of chess beg new pieces. Games employing drops of captured players are incredibly simple using these special pieces. Many chess enthusiasts have expressed that variants such as Crazyhouse cannot be played in person. Now you can! In-person play can now be on the same level as standard games. See available options here and start playing in a whole new way!
Chess rules are pretty simple after you understand them...but instead of writing them all out as others have so meticulously done, I will introduce you to sites that do a good job of this. The following sites are easy to locate and have done a great job of explaining the rules of chess and don't have a bunch of annoying adds all over their pages.
Links:
ChessCoachOnline
Chess.com
Chesscentral.com
and if you are in the mood for a good dose of history, citations and other references:
Wikipedia
But, beyond chess are its variants, which makes for some interesting study in and of themselves. Wikipedia provides some good classifications and descriptions to get started with:
The chess variants we currently make sets for are Crazyhouse and Bughouse chess. Crazyhouse is a two player game that employs the rules of chess with the ability to drop a captured player onto the board as part of a turn. By doing so, the player may block a check, put the other king in check or finish the game. We make 2 sided sets that meet the need for pieces that can show possession by the opposing side. This is difficult to do if one sees the standard 3D set as irreplaceable. However, people mainly play these variations in online forums. Chess.com is one such forum that offers training and a community of players to engage with. Others are:
Bughouse chess is a 4 player game with a team comprised of one player with light and one player with dark pieces. As pieces are captured, they are passed to the teammate of the other color and are able to be played in a similar manner to Crazyhouse. There are some additional differences between the games, so checking for additional information is recommended. This variation is often played OTB, over the board as two standard sets are able to be used. This game also adds variation that demands flexibility and also teamwork.
From what I have learned about the variants of chess, I have formed a few thoughts:
1. As the world became smaller through the intermingling of convenient travel and later, real-time communication, Far-Eastern games such as Shoji, which employ drops of players onto the board from a capturing player's pocket, have added an element of randomness to a traditional Western game that is known for being mastered by experience and memorization. The variants are employing creative changes that require a little more flexibility and improvisation by players. Doesn't that seem to reflect the modern need for expertise coupled with adaptability? In this way, variants of chess are an excellent training ground for success in such a fluid society.
2. Some changes focus on a changed battlefield - the board. Some changes focus on the moves - no change in hardware required, just a different mindset. Some variants focus on new players; evolution of skills or powers. And lastly, some variants require pieces that can change what they are on the fly. This is a particularly challenging problem that we attempt to remedy. Many of these adjustments have already been made digitally. However, the game itself was created as a face to face competition that fills a human need for tangible experience. Why not attempt to use OTB play to enhance your chess experience?
If you would like to see other variants supported, let us know what we can do for you.
Links:
ChessCoachOnline
Chess.com
Chesscentral.com
and if you are in the mood for a good dose of history, citations and other references:
Wikipedia
But, beyond chess are its variants, which makes for some interesting study in and of themselves. Wikipedia provides some good classifications and descriptions to get started with:
The chess variants we currently make sets for are Crazyhouse and Bughouse chess. Crazyhouse is a two player game that employs the rules of chess with the ability to drop a captured player onto the board as part of a turn. By doing so, the player may block a check, put the other king in check or finish the game. We make 2 sided sets that meet the need for pieces that can show possession by the opposing side. This is difficult to do if one sees the standard 3D set as irreplaceable. However, people mainly play these variations in online forums. Chess.com is one such forum that offers training and a community of players to engage with. Others are:
Bughouse chess is a 4 player game with a team comprised of one player with light and one player with dark pieces. As pieces are captured, they are passed to the teammate of the other color and are able to be played in a similar manner to Crazyhouse. There are some additional differences between the games, so checking for additional information is recommended. This variation is often played OTB, over the board as two standard sets are able to be used. This game also adds variation that demands flexibility and also teamwork.
From what I have learned about the variants of chess, I have formed a few thoughts:
1. As the world became smaller through the intermingling of convenient travel and later, real-time communication, Far-Eastern games such as Shoji, which employ drops of players onto the board from a capturing player's pocket, have added an element of randomness to a traditional Western game that is known for being mastered by experience and memorization. The variants are employing creative changes that require a little more flexibility and improvisation by players. Doesn't that seem to reflect the modern need for expertise coupled with adaptability? In this way, variants of chess are an excellent training ground for success in such a fluid society.
2. Some changes focus on a changed battlefield - the board. Some changes focus on the moves - no change in hardware required, just a different mindset. Some variants focus on new players; evolution of skills or powers. And lastly, some variants require pieces that can change what they are on the fly. This is a particularly challenging problem that we attempt to remedy. Many of these adjustments have already been made digitally. However, the game itself was created as a face to face competition that fills a human need for tangible experience. Why not attempt to use OTB play to enhance your chess experience?
If you would like to see other variants supported, let us know what we can do for you.
