Dunsany's chess
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |         | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
Dunsany's chess, also known as 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. A similar game is called 'horde chess'. In 2015 horde chess became playable online on notable chess website Lichess.
Rules
Object of the game:
- The standard pieces win by capturing all 32 pawns before the pawns run out of legal moves.
- The pawns win by checkmating the king.
- The pawns can also accomplish a draw by running out of legal moves.
Piece movement is the same as in regular chess, except that only the eight black pawns have the option to move forward two spaces on their first move.
Variations
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |      | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
There exists an almost identical game called Horde chess. It begins with 32 pawns occupying all of ranks five through seven, as well as pawns on d4 and e4 instead of d8 and e8. Standard pieces occupy ranks one and two. The pawns on rank two can move one or two spaces on their first move.