by Rich Hutnik
This is something I worked on awhile ago, and now have decided to add it here as an entry on BGG. Once it is up, it will be on here as "Formations Chess". It is an idea that developed out of Near Chess and Near vs Normal Chess, Basic idea is to replace the randomness and lack of harmony in board setup seen in a shuffle (the lack of harmony in Chess 960 is a criticism of that), and allow players greater control. In the case of both formations and shuffles, the idea is to vary gameplay. Formation Chess also accomodates variant pieces.As a prelude, here are the rules for it. Please look for Formations Chess on here when it gets added, and also post comments there. The rules are up for additions once more people play it.
And onto the rules...
Rules to Formations Chess (Copyright 2012 by Richard Hutnik):
Introduction:
This variant plays like normal FIDE chess, except that players configure how their pieces are set up by a set of rules. To full grasp how Formations Chess works, it is recommended players first play Near Chess, and then Near vs Normal Chess. Playing the games in this order is also recommended for players who want to learn how to play Chess.
Set up:
White sets up all their pieces, and then black sets up all their pieces. After this, while makes first move and then black does, and players alternate turns in this manner.
Rules governing piece placement (and movement):
* Pawns:
- Only one pawn per column.
- Pawns are placed on the second and third row. If a pawn is placed on the second row, any piece placed during set up in the same column must be placed on the first row. If a pawn is placed in the third row, any piece placed in the same column must be placed in the first or second row. In other words, pieces are placed behind a pawn, not in front.
- When a pawn moves from the third row start, it may advance only one space as first move. When a piece moves from the second row, it may advance one or two spaces on its first move and is at risk of being captured by En Passant.
* Other pieces besides pawns (pieces in this section, unless noted, refer to non-pawn pieces):
- Only one piece and pawn per column, with the non-pawn piece in same column as pawn behind the pawn, and in either the first or second row.
- Pieces placed in first row may be placed on any space. Pieces placed in the second column must be placed in same column they would be placed in normal chess set up (ie, on outside are rooks, then knights, then bishops, then king and queen, working from outside in).
- When pieces are placed, they are placed either on the same row as the king or one row behind. Only pawns may be placed in a row in front of a king.
- Pieces must be placed behind a wall of pawns in such a way that, outside of the knight, there are unable to advance beyond the second row unless a pawn is moved first.
* Castling (King may castle from either first or second row, provided the following is true):
- A king may only castle king side if the the board was set up, from left to right, with king, then bishop, and then knight and then rook, with rook on column on outside (as in normal chess). All these pieces must be in same row as King.
- A king may only castle queen side if the the board was set up, from left to right, with rook, then knight, and then bishop and then queen, and then finally king, with rook on column on outside (as in normal chess). All these pieces must be in same row as king.
Optional rules (if want to add variant pieces):
- If playing with pocket pieces of a number of types, these pieces may be added to the game if they are either are placed in the first row only as a move, or on a space where a non-pawn piece moved out from immediately after it moved out.
Optional rules (from Near Chess):
- Pawns may only promote to captured pieces, so there may not be more than the initial number of pieces on the board.
- Capture king, rather than checkmating king, to win the game.
