Dunsany's chess

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Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 rd b8 nd c8 bd d8 qd e8 kd f8 bd g8 nd h8 rd Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 pd b7 pd c7 pd d7 pd e7 pd f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 pl b4 pl c4 pl d4 pl e4 pl f4 pl g4 pl h4 pl
a3 pl b3 pl c3 pl d3 pl e3 pl f3 pl g3 pl h3 pl
a2 pl b2 pl c2 pl d2 pl e2 pl f2 pl g2 pl h2 pl
a1 pl b1 pl c1 pl d1 pl e1 pl f1 pl g1 pl h1 pl
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Dunsany's chess, the starting position.

Dunsany's chess, also known as Horde chess or Dunsany's game,[1] is an asymmetric chess variant in which one side has standard chess pieces, and the other side has 32 pawns. Unlike many chess variants, this one does not feature any fairy pieces, which are pieces not found in conventional chess. This game was invented by Lord Dunsany in 1942.

Contents

[edit] Rules

Object of the game:

  • The standard pieces win by capturing all 32 pawns before they run out of legal moves.
  • The pawns win by checkmating the king. This is far easier if they first get at least one pawn promoted to queen.
  • The pawns can also accomplish a draw, which for them is almost as good as a win, by running out of legal moves.

Piece movement is the same as in regular chess, except that only the eight pawns from the standard side have the option to move forward two spaces on their first move.

[edit] Variations

Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 pd b8 pd c8 pd d8 e8 f8 pd g8 pd h8 pd Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 pd b7 pd c7 pd d7 pd e7 pd f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd
a6 pd b6 pd c6 pd d6 pd e6 pd f6 pd g6 pd h6 pd
a5 pd b5 pd c5 pd d5 pd e5 pd f5 pd g5 pd h5 pd
a4 b4 c4 d4 pd e4 pd f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 pl b2 pl c2 pl d2 pl e2 pl f2 pl g2 pl h2 pl
a1 rl b1 nl c1 bl d1 ql e1 kl f1 bl g1 nl h1 rl
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Horde chess.

ItsYourTurn.com game server supports an almost identical game called Horde chess. In difference to Dunsany's chess, the colors of pieces are exchanged and the starting position of the pawns is slightly different.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Pritchard, D. (1994). The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants. Games & Puzzles Publications. ISBN 0-9524-1420-1. 
  2. ^ Rules of horde chess.

[edit] External links

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