Chess Boards The everevolving chess game component
The number of recognized chess variants is growing. And this not only attracts whole new leagues
of chess players, but it has also created new chess board designs far different
than the original 8 x 8 chess boards.
According to an online independent voluntary judiciary
committee, there are approximately 43 recognized chess variants, and the number
is growing. The increased variety of
game play has not only attracted whole new leagues of chess players, but it has
also created new chess board designs far different than the original 8 X 8
chess boards.
This adventurous exploration of the games various
geometrical and multiplane possibilities has helped to put forward many new
and interesting design concepts. Most
new chess board designs, however, fail the test of time. This is usually due to the inventors flawed
understanding of entertainment value and the necessary math that made chess the
game that it is in the first place.
However, others did, and do, survive.
The following are examples of just some of the successful chess board
designs
- Changgi
Also know as Korean Chess, it is played on chessboards that are 9 X 10
with the first two ranks on the 10 square side including 2 X 2 centre
sections made up of 8 equilateral triangles. Linear game play on these chessboards
takes place on the lines that make up the grid while diagonal play goes
corner to corner. This modified
system, said to be the descendant of the Chinese chess variant, XiangQi, has
maintained a strong following and it, along with its design modification
of chess boards, is here to stay. - Courier
Chess In the Middle Ages, a German variant came to life and increased
game complexity by turning the playing field into 8X12 chess boards. Each opponent has 12 pieces to pit
against their foe. Some chess
pieces move either exactly like or differ very slightly from the older
game of Chaturanga, the progenitor of chess. Courier chess adds three new chess piece
classes, making game play such that stalemate wasnt an issue. Courier chess boards and the game itself
died out for a long period after the Middle Ages ended, but now the game
has experienced an online revival. - Dragonchess
Gary Gygax, famed creator of Dungeons Dragons, turned his eye to
chess and chess board design. What
resulted was three 8 X 8 boards stacked one on top of the other. The upper board is meant to represent
the sky, while the middle level is treated as earth and the lowest board
is treated as the underworld. As
with Garys
muchplayed and much praised RPG gaming invention, Dragonchess has a new
set of chess piece types based on DD character classes. With such classes as Griffins,
Oliphants, Paladins and Basilisks, players are expected to maneuver their
chess pieces in concert according to a complicated mathematical
notation. This game and its unique
use of multiple chess boards survives due to the legions of capewearing,
potionmaking, spellcasting supergeeks that everyone else cheated off of
in high school. A narrow, but
dedicated demographic. Speaking of which - Tridimensional
Chess Ever since scifi fans saw Spock playing the mysterious alien game
of TriDimensional chess, they have been intrigued with attributing a real
and playable set of rules for the fictional game. In the early 90s, a formal rule set of
game play was established. Every
Starfleet officer in cyberdistance of this wonderful breakthrough in
chess and chess board design began assembling their Tridimensional chess
boards with fevered anticipation.
Star Trek 3Dimensional Chess, as it is also known, is made up from
one 64space board split into seven different levels. This configuration consists of three 4 X
4 and four 2X 2 chess boards arranged both vertically and
horizontally. Seems easy, but the
trick is that pieces from different levels interact with each other and
pieces can also be transported from one level to another, not to mention
that the players can move the 2 X 2 chess boards to suit their strategic
needs. Game complexity here can
make your head spin and may be better left to the slide rule army.
Now that youve had just a taste of what we can come up with
when we attempt to reinvent chess and the design of chess boards, you can
appreciate the unending evolution of the game.
However, that doesnt mean you have to play these variants.
Traditional chess boards conforming to those familiar
ageold rules can be purchased in many designs and beautiful materials. There are many online suppliers ready to
cater to your chess board needs. Find a supplier that provides a reliable
online service with a wide selection of unique and classical chess boards.
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