Initial setup

The board has 16 x 16 squares.

Pieces

King

Moves as in usual Chess, except there is no castling.

Snake

Moves one square vertically and then, slides away of an indefinite number of squares diagonally. It can not jump and the unobstructed path must start with the vertical movement.

Ship

Moves one square diagonally and then, goes away of an indefinite number of cases vertically, never horizontally.

Mammoth

Steps horizontally, vertically or diagonally one or two squares, leaping over the intermediate square if it is occupied

Squirrel

Jumps at 2 squares

Cheetah

Jumps at 3 squares

Troll

Makes a 3-step orthogonal or diagonal jump, no matter what any intermediate square contains. In addition, it moves 1 step forward and captures 1 step diagonally forward (like a Pawn). This permits the Troll to reach any square on the board. It can promote to wolf only when it moves like a Pawn, never by jumping 3 squares

Prince

A non-royal King who moves and captures one square in any direction, but without being hindered by check. Like the Pawn, he can also move without capturing to the second square straight ahead. When he reaches the last row it can promote to wolf.

Pawn

Moves straight forward one or two square from any position on the board, without capturing. It captures one square diagonally forward. As a consequence, the en-passant capture is possible every time an opposite Pawn or Prince has advanced two squares. When he reaches the last row it can promote to Direwolf.

Griffon

This piece may appear in this game by promotion of a Ship. It moves one square diagonally and then, slides away of an indefinite number of squares vertically or horizontally.

Rhinoceros

This piece may appear in this game by promotion of a Snake. It moves one square vertically or horizontally and then, slides away of an indefinite number of squares diagonally.

Direwolf

This piece may appear later on by promotion of a Pawn, a Prince or a Troll. It jumps on any square situated at 2 or 3 squares distance from where it stands.

Queen

Exactly as in usual Chess.

Bishop

Exactly as in usual Chess.

Knight

Moves as in usual Chess. In addition, when a Knight reaches the last row it promotes to a Buffalo.

Rook

Exactly as in usual Chess.

Elephant

As in Shako. In this game, when the Elephant reaches the last row it promotes to a Lion.

Machine

It is an orthogonal counterpart of the Elephant as it moves 1 or 2 cases orthogonally, jumping over the first case if it is occupied. Then, it combines the moves of old Dabbaba and Wazir found in ancient Muslim Chess variants. In this game, when the Machine reaches the last row it promotes to a Lion.

Lion

As in Metamachy, inspired (although with some simplification) by Chu Shogi, the most popular variant of the Japanese Chess. Here the Lion may move as a King (a single step move in any direction), or it may jump to a position two squares away, jumping in any orthogonal or diagonal direction, or alternatively jumping as a Knight in usual Chess. (Then this Lion has the same range but is more restricted than the Lion in Chu Shogi which can move two times in a turn).

Giraffe

a (3,2) jumper, it jumps to the opposite square of a 3x4 rectangle, like an extended Knight. No matter what intermediate squares contain. Note that it always changes the same color of its square. That piece is found in Alfonso X's Grant Acedrex (but its move has been rendered differently by 20th century historians). The same pattern, but with a non-jumping move, is found in Janggi, Korean Chess, for the Elephant. Under the name of Zebra, it is also a fairy piece used by problemists for compositions.

Camel

As in Metamachy, a well known piece from medieval Muslim great Chess like Tamerlane's Chess. It jumps to the opposite case of a 2x4 rectangle, like an extended Knight. No matter what intermediate cases contain. Note that it always stays on the same color of square. When a Camel reaches the last row it promotes to a Buffalo.

Hawk

It jumps horizontally, vertically or diagonally two or three squares, leaping over the intermediate squares if they are occupied.

Cannon

As in Xiangqi, in Shako and in Metamachy. (Also known as Pao by problemists).

Bow

It is the diagonal counterpart of the Chinese Cannon. It moves like a Bishop and needs an intermediate piece between itself and its victim to capture it. The Bow jumps the intermediate and takes the victim on its square. The intermediate is left unaffected. (Also known as Vao by problemists).

Buffalo

Jumps to the opposite case of a 3x4 rectangle, like an extended Knight. No matter what intermediate cases contain. Note that it always changes the same color of its square. The same move is found in Janggi, Korean Chess, for the Elephant. Under the name of Zebra, it is also a fairy piece used by problemists for compositions. When a Bull reaches the last row it promotes to a Buffalo.

Rhinoceros

Moves one square vertically or horizontally and then slides away an indefinite number of squares diagonally..

Marshall

It combines the move of Rook and Knight. It can be found in many, many chess variants since Carrera, Bird, Capablanca and many others like Grand Chess or Gothic Chess. (under many other names: Champion, Guard, Empress, Concubine, Chancellor, etc. The later is sometimes preferred, however it is confusing since Capablanca used it once for R+N and once for B+N. It is an Elephant in Seirawan Chess).

Cardinal

It combines the move of Bishop and Knight. It can be found in many, many chess variants since Carrera, Bird, Capablanca, Modern and many others like Grand Chess or Gothic Chess. (under many other names: Centaur, Minister, Equerry, Janus, Archbishop, Princess, Chancellor, etc. It is a Hawk in Seirawan Chess).

Amazon

Strongest piece on the board, it combines the move of Queen and Knight. It was used in the Turkish-Indian Grand Chess (as a Giraffe).

Centaur

it is another compound piece that moves as a Knight or a non-royal King.

Admiral

it is another compound piece that moves as a Rook or a non-royal King. That means that it is a Rook that can also step one space diagonally.

Prince

a non-royal King who moves and captures one square in any direction, but without being hindered by check. Like the Pawn, he can also move without capturing to the second square straight ahead.

Missionary

it is another compound piece that moves as a Bishop or a non-royal King. That means that it is a Bishop that can also step one space orthogonally.

Soldier

it moves as a super-Pawn. It captures 1-square diagonally forward like a Pawn, but moves with no capture either 1-square forward or sideways (left or right). It can also step two empty squares forward from any position on the board..

Duchess

it is another compound piece that moves as a Bishop or a non-royal King. That means that it is a Bishop that can also step one space orthogonally.

Bison

combines the leaps of the Knight (2,1), the Camel (3,1) and the Giraffe (3,2).

Archer

it is the diagonal counterpart of the Xiangqi's Cannon. It moves like a Bishop and needs an intermediate piece between itself and its victim to capture it. The Archer jumps the intermediate and takes the victim on its square.

Promotions table

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