Capablanca random chess
Encyclopedia
Capablanca Random Chess (CRC) is a chess variant
invented by Reinhard Scharnagl
in 2004. It combines the piece set and 10x8 board from Capablanca Chess
with the permutation idea of Fischer Random Chess
. This game won a contest in 2005 held at The Chess Variant Pages to design a chess variant based upon the theme of the number 10.
but initial setup is randomized. White and black pieces are set up in symmetrical position. The pieces on the first rank are placed in a random way with the following restrictions:
The first restriction is taken from Fischer Random Chess
for the purpose of balancing the power of colorbound bishops. The second restriction is based upon the first restriction but extrapolated to the unique piece set used within CRC. The third restriction is taken from Fischer Random Chess
to preserve castling ability. The fourth restriction helps to minimize the advantage held by white in having the first move of the game. The fifth restriction is to avoid possible legal issues in America with Gothic Chess, which was formerly protected by a US patent. The sixth restriction was introduced later upon discovery by Reinhard Scharnagl
that such positions might increase the first move of the game advantage for white.
Together, these six rules restrict the opening setup to 12,118 starting positions.
is used (to represent positions).
Chess variant
A chess variant is a game related to, derived from or inspired by chess. The difference from chess might include one or more of the following:...
invented by Reinhard Scharnagl
Reinhard Scharnagl
Reinhard Scharnagl is author of a book about the future of the game of Chess, inventor of Capablanca Random Chess and the Chess960 numbering scheme and developer of the chess variant program SMIRF.- Chessbook author :...
in 2004. It combines the piece set and 10x8 board from Capablanca Chess
Capablanca chess
Capablanca chess is a chess variant invented in the 1920s by former World Chess Champion José Raúl Capablanca. It incorporates two new pieces and is played on a 10×8 board. Capablanca proposed the variant while World Champion, and not as a "sour grapes" rationalization after losing his title as...
with the permutation idea of Fischer Random Chess
Chess960
Chess960 is a chess variant invented and advocated by former World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer, originally announced on June 19, 1996 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It employs the same board and pieces as standard chess, but the starting position of the pieces is randomized along the players' home...
. This game won a contest in 2005 held at The Chess Variant Pages to design a chess variant based upon the theme of the number 10.
Rules
The rules are the same as in Capablanca chessCapablanca chess
Capablanca chess is a chess variant invented in the 1920s by former World Chess Champion José Raúl Capablanca. It incorporates two new pieces and is played on a 10×8 board. Capablanca proposed the variant while World Champion, and not as a "sour grapes" rationalization after losing his title as...
but initial setup is randomized. White and black pieces are set up in symmetrical position. The pieces on the first rank are placed in a random way with the following restrictions:
- Bishops must be on opposite colored spaces.
- The queen and the archbishop (which are composite pieces possessing, in part, the movement powers of bishops) must also be on opposite colored spaces.
- The king must be between the rooks.
- All pawns must be protected in initial setup.
- The starting position must be different from that of Gothic ChessGothic chessGothic Chess is a chess variant derived from Capablanca Chess by Ed Trice. It was patented in 2002, but the patent expired in 2006.It is played on the same 10×8 board and additional pieces as in Capablanca Chess...
. - Starting positions with neighbouring bishops must be avoided.
The first restriction is taken from Fischer Random Chess
Chess960
Chess960 is a chess variant invented and advocated by former World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer, originally announced on June 19, 1996 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It employs the same board and pieces as standard chess, but the starting position of the pieces is randomized along the players' home...
for the purpose of balancing the power of colorbound bishops. The second restriction is based upon the first restriction but extrapolated to the unique piece set used within CRC. The third restriction is taken from Fischer Random Chess
Chess960
Chess960 is a chess variant invented and advocated by former World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer, originally announced on June 19, 1996 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It employs the same board and pieces as standard chess, but the starting position of the pieces is randomized along the players' home...
to preserve castling ability. The fourth restriction helps to minimize the advantage held by white in having the first move of the game. The fifth restriction is to avoid possible legal issues in America with Gothic Chess, which was formerly protected by a US patent. The sixth restriction was introduced later upon discovery by Reinhard Scharnagl
Reinhard Scharnagl
Reinhard Scharnagl is author of a book about the future of the game of Chess, inventor of Capablanca Random Chess and the Chess960 numbering scheme and developer of the chess variant program SMIRF.- Chessbook author :...
that such positions might increase the first move of the game advantage for white.
Together, these six rules restrict the opening setup to 12,118 starting positions.
Extended FEN Encoding
Within Capablanca Random Chess, X-FENX-FEN
X-FEN is an extension of Forsyth-Edwards Notation .The traditional Forsyth-Edwards Notation is not sufficient to represent all possible positions in 8x8 Chess960 or 10x8 Capablanca random chess . Consequently, an extension of FEN was needed, with the requirement of being fully backward compatible...
is used (to represent positions).