Chess on a Really Big Board

abcdefghijklmnop
16a16 black rookb16 black knightc16 black wizardd16 black champione16 black bishopf16 black upside-down knightg16 black princessh16 black queeni16 black kingj16 black empressk16 black fooll16 black bishopm16 black championn16 black wizardo16 black knightp16 black rook16
15a15 black pawnb15 black pawnc15 black pawnd15 black pawne15 black pawnf15 black pawng15 black pawnh15 black pawni15 black pawnj15 black pawnk15 black pawnl15 black pawnm15 black pawnn15 black pawno15 black pawnp15 black pawn15
14a14b14c14d14e14f14g14h14i14j14k14l14m14n14o14p1414
13a13b13c13d13e13f13g13h13i13j13k13l13m13n13o13p1313
12a12b12c12d12e12f12g12h12i12j12k12l12m12n12o12p1212
11a11b11c11d11e11f11g11h11i11j11k11l11m11n11o11p1111
10a10b10c10d10e10f10g10h10i10j10k10l10m10n10o10p1010
9a9b9c9d9e9f9g9h9i9j9k9l9m9n9o9p99
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h8i8j8k8l8m8n8o8p88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h7i7j7k7l7m7n7o7p77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h6i6j6k6l6m6n6o6p66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h5i5j5k5l5m5n5o5p55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h4i4j4k4l4m4n4o4p44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h3i3j3k3l3m3n3o3p33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawni2 white pawnj2 white pawnk2 white pawnl2 white pawnm2 white pawnn2 white pawno2 white pawnp2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white wizardd1 white champione1 white bishopf1 white upside-down knightg1 white princessh1 white queeni1 white kingj1 white empressk1 white fooll1 white bishopm1 white championn1 white wizardo1 white knightp1 white rook1
abcdefghijklmnop
Chess on a Really Big Board: initial position

Chess on a Really Big Board is a large chess variant invented by Ralph Betza around 1996.[1] It is played on a 16×16 chessboard with 16 pieces (on the back rank) and 16 pawns (on the second rank) per player. Since such a board can be constructed by pushing together four standard 8×8 boards, Betza also gave this variant the alternative names of Four Board Chess[1] or Chess on Four Boards.[2]

Game description

Chess on a Really Big Board was created as an outgrowth of Betza's ideas on three-dimensional chess, after he noted that an 8×8×8 board for 3D chess would have 512 spaces, more than any large version of chess that had previously been invented; he then considered two-dimensional very large (or, in his word, "huge") chess games, mainly on the 16×16 board because such a board requires no non-standard equipment to construct, and while much larger than the 8×8 board, it was not so big as to make an unplayable game.[1] This idea eventually came full circle in the development of the 16×16×16 three-dimensional version of Chess on a Really Big Board, which he called "impossibly large".[3]

The standard rules of chess apply, except for the following cases:[1]

abcdefgh
8
e6 black cross
d5 black cross
f5 black cross
c4 black cross
e4 white wizard
g4 black cross
d3 black cross
f3 black cross
e2 black cross
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
FD (single-letter symbol D). Moves as ferz or dabbaba. (This is the kirin from chu shogi.) Can jump for all moves.

abcdefgh
8
c6 black cross
g6 black cross
d5 black cross
e5 black cross
f5 black cross
d4 black cross
e4 white champion
f4 black cross
d3 black cross
e3 black cross
f3 black cross
c2 black cross
g2 black cross
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
WFA (single-letter symbol W). Moves as king or alfil. Can jump for all moves.

abcdefgh
8
c7 black cross
d7 black cross
f7 black cross
g7 black cross
b6 black cross
d6 black cross
f6 black cross
h6 black cross
b5 black cross
c5 black cross
g5 black cross
h5 black cross
e4 white fool
b3 black cross
c3 black cross
g3 black cross
h3 black cross
b2 black cross
d2 black cross
f2 black cross
h2 black cross
c1 black cross
d1 black cross
f1 black cross
g1 black cross
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Superknight (NLJ; single-letter symbol J). Moves as knight, camel, or zebra. Can jump for all moves. Known as the buffalo in the fairy chess tradition.

abcdefgh
8
a8 black cross
b7 black cross
h7 black cross
c6 black cross
d6 black cross
f6 black cross
g6 black cross
c5 black cross
d5 black cross
f5 black cross
g5 black cross
e4 white archbishop
c3 black cross
d3 black cross
f3 black cross
g3 black cross
c2 black cross
d2 black cross
f2 black cross
g2 black cross
b1 black cross
h1 black cross
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Archbishop (NB; single-letter symbol A). Moves as bishop or knight. Can jump for knight moves. Known as the princess in the fairy chess tradition.

abcdefgh
8
e8 black cross
e7 black cross
d6 black cross
e6 black cross
f6 black cross
c5 black cross
e5 black cross
g5 black cross
a4 black cross
b4 black cross
c4 black cross
d4 black cross
e4 white chancelor
f4 black cross
g4 black cross
h4 black cross
c3 black cross
e3 black cross
g3 black cross
d2 black cross
e2 black cross
f2 black cross
e1 black cross
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Chancellor (RN; single-letter symbol C). Moves as rook or knight. Can jump for knight moves. Known as the empress in the fairy chess tradition.

abcdefghijklmnop
16a16b16c16d16e16f16g16h16i16j16k16l16m16n16o16p1616
15a15b15c15d15e15f15g15h15i15j15k15l15m15n15o15p1515
14a14b14c14d14e14f14g14h14i14 fourj14k14l14m14n14o14p1414
13a13b13c13d13e13f13g13 threeh13i13j13k13 threel13m13n13o13p1313
12a12b12c12d12e12 fourf12g12h12i12 twoj12k12l12m12 fourn12o12p1212
11a11b11c11d11e11f11 twog11h11i11j11k11l11 twom11n11o11p1111
10a10b10c10d10 threee10f10g10h10 onei10j10 onek10l10m10n10 threeo10p1010
9a9b9c9d9e9f9g9 oneh9i9j9k9 onel9m9n9o9p99
8a8b8c8 fourd8e8 twof8g8h8i8 white upside-down knightj8k8l8m8 twon8o8 fourp88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7 oneh7i7j7k7 onel7m7n7o7p77
6a6b6c6d6 threee6f6g6h6 onei6j6 onek6l6m6n6 threeo6p66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5 twog5h5i5j5k5l5 twom5n5o5p55
4a4b4c4d4e4 fourf4g4h4i4 twoj4k4l4m4 fourn4o4p44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3 threeh3i3j3k3 threel3m3n3o3p33
2a2b2c2d2e2f2g2h2i2 fourj2k2l2m2n2o2p22
1a1b1c1d1e1f1g1h1i1j1k1l1m1n1o1p11
abcdefghijklmnop
Rose (qN; single-letter symbol O). Makes any number of consecutive knight moves on an octagonal (almost circular) path. It may move either clockwise or counterclockwise: going along a sequence of numbers 1-2-3-4-3-2-1 in a circle on the diagram demonstrates one possible move of the rose. It may jump over pieces in each of its individual knight moves, but is blocked by pieces on its circular path (though it may capture an enemy piece thus placed).
By going all the way around a circle, it is allowed to return to its starting position. Thus a player with an unblocked rose may pass his turn.

The reason for Betza's inclusion of the rose in his initial setup was that it was a piece especially suited for a large board: it cannot display its full power on boards smaller than 13×13. Furthermore, its already large move still cannot reach all the way across the board, contributing to the large feeling of the game even further than the ability of the riders to attack from a large distance away.[1]

Gameplay

Betza described his choice of pieces as "a very basic and logical selection of the fundamental geometrical moves, except for my idiosyncratic insistence on including the Rose in the lineup of pieces. These are largely the basic units of Chess, and anybody who designs a [16×16] game with 32 pieces is bound to come up with something reasonably similar, at least if they want it to be like Chess but a bit less tactical." In fact, his original plan was to include FD along with the complementary WA (the phoenix from chu shogi), but this leaves the c- and n-pawns undefended in the initial position. His final assessment was that the game was "rather chesslike".[1]

Betza divided the pieces into three classes: long-range (the rooks, bishops, queen, and rose), mid-range (the archbishop and chancellor), and short-range (the knights, superknight, FD, and WFA). He opined that the short-range pieces, though the weakest, were crucial as they take time to get into the action, but are very important for opening up specific lines for attacks.[1]

Sample opening phase of a game

abcdefghijklmnop
16a16 black rookb16 black knightc16 black wizardd16 black champione16 black bishopf16g16h16i16 black kingj16 black empressk16l16 black bishopm16 black championn16 black wizardo16 black knightp16 black rook16
15a15 black pawnb15 black pawnc15 black pawnd15 black pawne15 black pawnf15 black pawng15 black pawnh15i15j15 black pawnk15 black pawnl15 black pawnm15 black pawnn15 black pawno15 black pawnp15 black pawn15
14a14b14c14d14e14f14g14h14i14j14k14l14m14n14o14p1414
13a13b13c13d13e13f13g13h13i13 black foolj13k13l13m13n13o13p1313
12a12b12c12d12e12f12g12h12i12j12k12l12 black queenm12n12o12p1212
11a11b11c11d11e11f11g11h11 black upside-down knighti11j11k11l11m11n11o11p1111
10a10b10c10d10e10f10g10h10 black pawni10j10k10l10m10n10o10p1010
9a9b9c9d9e9f9g9h9i9 black pawnj9k9l9m9n9o9p99
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h8i8 white pawnj8 white pawnk8 black princessl8m8n8o8p8 white pawn8
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h7i7j7k7l7m7n7o7p77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h6 white fooli6j6k6l6m6n6o6p66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h5i5j5k5l5m5n5o5p55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h4i4j4k4l4m4n4o4p44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h3i3j3k3l3m3n3o3 white queenp33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawni2j2k2 white pawnl2 white pawnm2 white pawnn2 white pawno2 white pawnp22
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white wizardd1 white champione1 white bishopf1 white upside-down knightg1 white princessh1i1 white kingj1 white empressk1l1 white bishopm1 white championn1 white wizardo1 white knightp1 white rook1
abcdefghijklmnop
Position after 9...Ql12

The following sample game fragment was constructed by Betza.[1]

1.i8 i9
2.Qp9

The 16×16 analogue to the Danvers Opening. On such a large board, this opening move becomes much sounder, as it is more difficult to attack the queen, and from this position it bears down onto the centre from a long distance.

2...h10
3.j8 Oh11

Black defends his i-pawn; White attacks it again (her j-pawn being defended by the chancellor on j1); Black defends it again, moving his rose from f16 via e14 and f12 to h11, where it defends the pawn on i9. Trading pawns would be disadvantageous and lead to the loss of a tempo by the initiator, but at some point White's chancellor must be developed.

Currently, White has no immediate threats. Attacks on Black's h-pawn with Bb4 (moving the d-pawn away first), or his rose with Bo4 (moving the m-pawn away first) are easy to counter. Hence she decides to bring a short-range piece to attack, though this will take several turns.

4.Ji4 Ai15
5.Jh6 Ak14

Attacking White's queen.

6.Qp10 Ji13
7.p8!?

Threatening to lift the king's rook to the h-file to contest the centre.

7...An11!?

Continuing to attack White's queen. This region could also be used as an advanced base: the n11 square can easily be defended by the rose or the m-pawn, and a natural follow-up would be 8...Qn10.

8.Ql6 Ak8

The White queen retreats and attacks the Black i-pawn again, but Black defends the pawn with the archbishop while attacking the queen again. The archbishop itself, though attacked by White's superknight, is protected by Black's rose.

9.Qo3

If 9.Qk7, then 9...Al9 may win a pawn.

9...Ql12

Threatening 10...Al6.[1]

Sample game

abcdefghijklmnop
16a16 black rookb16c16d16e16f16g16h16i16j16k16l16m16n16 black rooko16 black kingp1616
15a15b15 black pawnc15 black pawnd15e15f15g15h15i15j15k15l15 black empressm15 black pawnn15 black pawno15 black pawnp15 black pawn15
14a14b14c14d14e14 black pawnf14g14h14i14j14k14l14m14n14o14p1414
13a13b13c13d13 black pawne13f13 black pawng13 black pawnh13i13 black upside-down knightj13k13l13m13n13o13p1313
12a12b12c12 black queend12e12 black wizardf12g12 black knighth12 black pawni12 black championj12k12l12m12 black knightn12o12p1212
11a11b11c11d11e11f11g11h11i11 black pawnj11k11l11m11n11o11p1111
10a10b10c10d10e10f10g10h10i10j10 black pawnk10l10 black championm10n10o10p1010
9a9 black pawnb9c9d9e9f9g9h9i9j9k9 black pawnl9m9 black wizardn9o9p99
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h8i8 white pawnj8k8l8 black pawnm8n8o8p88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7 white pawng7h7 white knighti7j7 white pawnk7l7m7n7o7p77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h6 white knighti6 white championj6k6 white pawnl6m6n6o6 black princessp66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5 white wizardh5 white princessi5j5k5l5 white pawnm5n5o5p55
4a4b4c4 white pawnd4e4f4g4h4i4 white foolj4k4l4m4 white pawnn4o4p44
3a3b3 white pawnc3d3e3f3g3h3i3 white pawnj3k3 white championl3 white wizardm3n3o3 white pawnp33
2a2 white pawnb2c2d2e2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white queeni2j2 white kingk2l2m2n2o2p2 white pawn2
1a1b1c1d1 white rooke1f1g1h1i1j1k1l1m1 white rookn1o1p11
abcdefghijklmnop
Final position after 53.Kj2

The following is the only complete game of Chess on a Really Big Board played on The Chess Variant Pages, and is not intended as a representative example of good play.

White: John Davis   Black: Georg Spengler
Game Courier 2015[5]

1.i8 k9 2.j7 Bd8 3.Ji4 Wk14 4.k6 j10 5.d5 Nn14 6.Of7 Ba11 7.Ci3 Bxi3 8.hxi3 l10 9.Wk3 Nm12 10.Ba15 Wf14 11.Wd3 g13 12.De1 h12 13.e6 Dn14 14.l5 Wf12 15.Nd2 Jj13 16.m4 Cl15 17.Bp5 f13 18.n7 Nc14 19.Bo6 Bg14 20.Bp7 Bn7 21.Bxj13 Ax13 22.Jl6 Ai12 23.Dm2 0-0 24.De3 Ag14 25.Nf1 i11 26.Dg3 Wh10 27.Ah3 Wj8 28.Ji4 Ne13 29.Wh5 Dc14 30.Dk2 e14 31.Nm2 Ng12 32.Nl4 Oi13 33.Nj5 Dd13 34.Nh6 De12 35.Dg5 Bj11 36.Ne3 Bxf7 37.exf7 Qa9+ 38.Qh2 Qxa5 39.Nc4 Qxd5 40.b3 d13 41.Af4 Qd12 42.Wi6 Ao6 43.Dl3 An4 44.o3 Ao6 45.Ah5 Wi12 46.Rd1 Qc12 47.Rm1 Dn12 48.Ne3 Dn10 49.c4 a9 50.Neg4 Dm9 51.Ni5 l8

This move is illegal: the Black l-pawn has already moved, and so it can now only move one square forward at a time. However, this was not noticed by either player, and hence the move stood.

52.Nh7 Wl10 53.Kj2 1–0

Endgame

The standard basic checkmates (queen, rook, two bishops, or bishop and knight) can all be forced on the 16×16 board, but take a longer time to accomplish. For example, while 33 moves suffice from any winnable position to mate with bishop and knight on an 8×8 board, it can take up to 93 moves on a 16×16 board. For example, if White has a king on a1, a knight on b1, and a bishop on c1, while Black has only a king on c2, White can force mate in 92:[6]

1.Bb2 Kb3 2.Bi9 Ka4 3.Kb2 Kb5 4.Kc3 Kc6 5.Kd4 Kd7 6.Ke5 Ke8 7.Kf6 Kf8 8.Kg6 Kg8 9.Bg11 Kf9 10.Kh7 Ke10 11.Kg8 Kf11 12.Bi9 Ke10 13.Kh9 Kd11 14.Kg10 Ke10 15.Bg11 Kd9 16.Kf9 Kc10 17.Ke10 Kc11 18.Ke11 Kc12 19.Nd2 Kd13 20.Ne4 Ke14 21.Nf6 Kf13 22.Kf11 Ke14 23.Ke12 Kd15 24.Kd13 Ke16 25.Ke14 Kd16 26.Nd7 Kc16 27.Ne9 Kb15 28.Kd15 Kb14 29.Bf10+ Kb15 30.Nd11 Ka16 31.Nc13 Kb16 32.Kd16 Ka15 33.Kc15 Ka16 34.Kc16 Ka15 35.Na12+ Ka16 36.Nb14 Ka15 37.Nd13 Ka14 38.Nc11 Ka13 39.Bc13 Ka14 40.Kc15 Ka13 41.Kc14 Ka14 42.Bd12 Ka13 43.Na10 Ka12 44.Kc13 Kb11 45.Nb12 Ka12 46.Kc12 Ka13 47.Be11 Ka12 48.Bf12 Ka13 49.Bc15 Ka12 50.Nd11 Ka11 51.Bf12 Ka12 52.Nc13 Ka11 53.Kc11 Ka10 54.Nd11 Ka9 55.Nb10 Kb9 56.Kb11 Ka9 57.Kc10 Ka10 58.Bg13 Ka11 59.Be15 Ka10 60.Nd9 Ka9 61.Bh12 Ka10 62.Nc11+ Ka9 63.Kc9 Ka8 64.Nd9 Kb7 65.Nb8 Ka7 66.Kc8 Ka8 67.Bg11 Ka9 68.Be13+ Ka8 69.Nd7 Ka7 70.Bh10 Ka8 71.Nc9 Ka7 72.Kc7 Ka6 73.Kc6 Ka7 74.Bd6 Ka6 75.Bc5 Ka5 76.Ne8 Ka4 77.Kd5 Kb3 78.Kd4 Kc2 79.Bb4 Kb3 80.Kc5 Ka2 81.Kc4 Kb1 82.Kc3 Kc1 83.Nd6 Kd1 84.Kd3 Kc1 85.Nc4 Kd1 86.Ba5 Kc1 87.Bd2 Kb1 88.Kc3 Ka2 89.Kc2 Ka1 90.Kb3 Kb1 91.Na3+ Ka1 92.Bc3#

A single archbishop, chancellor,[7] or WFA[8] can also force checkmate. Two FDs on different colours can force checkmate without their king's help.[9]

Sub-variants

Golden Age Chess on a Really Big Board

abcdefghijklmnop
16a16 black rookb16 black upside-down knightc16 black bishopd16 black foole16 black knightf16 black princessg16 black upside-down queenh16 black upside-down rooki16 black kingj16 black upside-down queenk16 black princessl16 black knightm16 black fooln16 black bishopo16 black upside-down knightp16 black rook16
15a15 black pawnb15 black pawnc15 black pawnd15 black pawne15 black pawnf15 black pawng15 black pawnh15 black pawni15 black pawnj15 black pawnk15 black pawnl15 black pawnm15 black pawnn15 black pawno15 black pawnp15 black pawn15
14a14b14c14d14e14f14g14h14i14j14k14l14m14n14o14p1414
13a13b13c13d13e13f13g13h13i13j13k13l13m13n13o13p1313
12a12b12c12d12e12f12g12h12i12j12k12l12m12n12o12p1212
11a11b11c11d11e11f11g11h11i11j11k11l11m11n11o11p1111
10a10b10c10d10e10f10g10h10i10j10k10l10m10n10o10p1010
9a9b9c9d9e9f9g9h9i9j9k9l9m9n9o9p99
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h8i8j8k8l8m8n8o8p88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h7i7j7k7l7m7n7o7p77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h6i6j6k6l6m6n6o6p66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h5i5j5k5l5m5n5o5p55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h4i4j4k4l4m4n4o4p44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h3i3j3k3l3m3n3o3p33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawni2 white pawnj2 white pawnk2 white pawnl2 white pawnm2 white pawnn2 white pawno2 white pawnp2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white upside-down knightc1 white bishopd1 white foole1 white knightf1 white princessg1 white upside-down queenh1 white upside-down rooki1 white kingj1 white upside-down queenk1 white princessl1 white knightm1 white fooln1 white bishopo1 white upside-down knightp1 white rook1
abcdefghijklmnop
Golden Age Chess on a Really Big Board: initial position. (Note that the piece shapes in the diagram do not always correspond to their meaning in Chess on a Really Big Board.)

Betza also created a second 16×16 variant, which he termed Golden Age Chess on a Really Big Board. He wrote: "This game is designed to create an open position in which development, initiative, and attack are all-important, the positions are too complex to calculate so you must play by intuition, and you never count Pawns -- in other words, a return to the Golden Age!"[4] However, he appears to have considered Chess on a Really Big Board to be the primary 16×16 game, that could be translated to 3D to make 16×16×16 chess.[3]

The inverted knight in the diagram is the rose from Chess on a Really Big Board, and the superknight and archbishop remain the same. The other pieces are as follows:

abcdefgh
8
e8 black cross
e6 black cross
e5 black cross
a4 black cross
c4 black cross
d4 black cross
e4 white rook
f4 black cross
g4 black cross
e3 black cross
e2 black cross
e1 black cross
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Skipping rook (WDD; single-letter symbol W). Moves as wazir or dabbaba-rider: in other words, a rook that skips every other square on its path and cannot be blocked there, or moves just one square. Betza called this piece a "skipping rook".

abcdefgh
8
e8 black cross
d7 black cross
f7 black cross
e6 black cross
b5 black cross
d5 black cross
f5 black cross
h5 black cross
a4 black cross
c4 black cross
e4 white bishop
g4 black cross
b3 black cross
d3 black cross
f3 black cross
h3 black cross
e2 black cross
d1 black cross
f1 black cross
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Crooked bishop (zB; single-letter symbol B). This piece was the original inspiration for this game. It makes a 90° turn at each step and always moves away from its original position. Thus it could move from e4 to d5 to e6 to d7 to e8. It was previously invented by J. de A. Almay in the early 20th century as the boyscout, along with the girlscout, which moves as a crooked rook (e.g. from a1 to a2 to b2 to b3 to c3).

abcdefgh
8
c8 black cross
g8 black cross
a6 black cross
d6 black cross
f6 black cross
c5 black cross
g5 black cross
e4 white knight
c3 black cross
g3 black cross
a2 black cross
d2 black cross
f2 black cross
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Nightrider (NN; single-letter symbol N). Makes any number of knight moves in the same direction. The nightrider is to the knight as the queen is to the king.

abcdefgh
8
b7 black cross
e7 black cross
h7 black cross
e6 black cross
d5 black cross
f5 black cross
b4 black cross
c4 black cross
e4 white upside-down queen
g4 black cross
h4 black cross
d3 black cross
f3 black cross
e2 black cross
b1 black cross
e1 black cross
h1 black cross
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
GHFD (single-letter symbol H). Moves as threeleaper, tripper, ferz, or dabbaba. Can jump for all moves.

abcdefgh
8
d8 black cross
f8 black cross
d7 black cross
f7 black cross
d6 black cross
f6 black cross
a5 black cross
b5 black cross
c5 black cross
d5 black cross
f5 black cross
g5 black cross
h5 black cross
e4 white upside-down rook
a3 black cross
b3 black cross
c3 black cross
d3 black cross
f3 black cross
g3 black cross
h3 black cross
d2 black cross
f2 black cross
d1 black cross
f1 black cross
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Gryphon (t[FR]; single-letter symbol R). Moves one step as a ferz, then continues outward as a rook.

The shortest possible checkmate is:[4]

1.Wa13 i9 2.Wi13 Ai15 3.Wi12#

The shortest game ending in quadruple check and mate is:[4]

1.Wa3 Np8 2.Wi3 Nxm2 3.Al3 Nk1 4.Bn5 Nxi2 5.Rxi2 i9 6.Rh3 i8 7.Bh5 i7 8.Wi2+ i6 9.Axi6 h14 10.Ad11#

Nine Board Chess

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx
24a24 black rookb24 black knightc24 black wizardd24 black champione24 black bishopf24 black upside-down knightg24 black foolh24 black princessi24 black empressj24 black queenk24 black upside-down bishopl24 black upside-down rookm24 black kingn24 black upside-down bishopo24 black queenp24 black empressq24 black princessr24 black fools24 black upside-down knightt24 black bishopu24 black championv24 black wizardw24 black knightx24 black rook24
23a23 black pawnb23 black pawnc23 black pawnd23 black pawne23 black pawnf23 black pawng23 black pawnh23 black pawni23 black pawnj23 black pawnk23 black pawnl23 black pawnm23 black pawnn23 black pawno23 black pawnp23 black pawnq23 black pawnr23 black pawns23 black pawnt23 black pawnu23 black pawnv23 black pawnw23 black pawnx23 black pawn23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8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h8i8j8k8l8m8n8o8p8q8r8s8t8u8v8w8x88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h7i7j7k7l7m7n7o7p7q7r7s7t7u7v7w7x77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h6i6j6k6l6m6n6o6p6q6r6s6t6u6v6w6x66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h5i5j5k5l5m5n5o5p5q5r5s5t5u5v5w5x55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h4i4j4k4l4m4n4o4p4q4r4s4t4u4v4w4x44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h3i3j3k3l3m3n3o3p3q3r3s3t3u3v3w3x33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawni2 white pawnj2 white pawnk2 white pawnl2 white pawnm2 white pawnn2 white pawno2 white pawnp2 white pawnq2 white pawnr2 white pawns2 white pawnt2 white pawnu2 white pawnv2 white pawnw2 white pawnx2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white wizardd1 white champione1 white bishopf1 white upside-down knightg1 white foolh1 white princessi1 white empressj1 white queenk1 white upside-down bishopl1 white upside-down rookm1 white kingn1 white upside-down bishopo1 white queenp1 white empressq1 white princessr1 white fools1 white upside-down knightt1 white bishopu1 white championv1 white wizardw1 white knightx1 white rook1
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx
Nine Board Chess: one possible initial position. The inverted rook and bishop represent the wazir and ferz respectively.

Betza also proposed a 24×24 version of Chess on a Really Big Board, although he did not fully design it. His description of the game was "Push 9 boards together in a [3×3] square, symmetrically replicate all the unique pieces from the Four Board Chess lineup, add a W beside the K, two Fs flanking the K [and] W, and you have a game." The W and F are here the wazir and ferz. This description is however not unique: the diagram shown to the right is one possible interpretation, but others are also consistent with his description. The addition of such weak pieces was intended to balance the duplication of the more powerful pieces.[1]

Four Board Shatranj

Betza also suggested a version with even fewer tactics that would eliminate many of the riders, replacing bishops with alfils and queens with ferzes, turning archbishops into knight-alfil compounds, and turning chancellors into either rook-alfil or rook-ferz compounds.[1]

Rule changes

Betza remarked that the rules of most chess variants, such as cylindrical chess or Avalanche chess, could be applied to Chess on a Really Big Board; nonetheless, he considered applying the rules of cylindrical chess to the 16×16 board "silly" because it made distances feel even larger, recommending Avalanche chess instead as it shortens the game. Betza also thought favourably of applying the rules of Momentum Chess to the 16×16 board.[1] Another possibility Betza mentioned is the rules of Viennese Kriegspiel, where the middle of the board (the line between the 8th and 9th ranks) is blocked by a screen and players can move their pieces freely up to their first six ranks. Once both players are satisfied with their arrangement (this can be enforced with a timer), the screen is removed and normal play resumes. It would also be possible to play without the screen, which Betza called "Sighted Viennese Kriegspiel".[1]

A further possibility Betza entertained was a 3D version of Chess on a Really Big Board on a 16×16×16 board, which brought its inspiration full circle. On each level, the 2D setup would be repeated, and the pieces' moves would be translated into three dimensions just as in his idea of 8×8×8 3D chess. Nevertheless, he commented on it: "What an awful idea. Each player has 256 Pawns and 256 pieces. The average length of a game is likely to be more [than] 2000 moves."[3]

Different starting positions

Betza also considered starting positions with 16 (one chess set) or 64 (four sets) pieces instead of 32 (two sets), but eventually rejected them. They are as follows:[1]

abcdefghijklmnop
16a16b16c16d16e16f16g16h16i16j16k16l16m16n16o16p1616
15a15b15c15d15e15f15g15h15i15j15k15l15m15n15o15p1515
14a14b14c14d14e14f14g14h14i14j14k14l14m14n14o14p1414
13a13b13c13d13e13f13g13h13i13j13k13l13m13n13o13p1313
12a12b12c12d12e12 black rookf12 black knightg12 black bishoph12 black queeni12 black kingj12 black bishopk12 black knightl12 black rookm12n12o12p1212
11a11b11c11d11e11 black pawnf11 black pawng11 black pawnh11 black pawni11 black pawnj11 black pawnk11 black pawnl11 black pawnm11n11o11p1111
10a10b10c10d10e10f10g10h10i10j10k10l10m10n10o10p1010
9a9b9c9d9e9f9g9h9i9j9k9l9m9n9o9p99
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h8i8j8k8l8m8n8o8p88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h7i7j7k7l7m7n7o7p77
6a6b6c6d6e6 white pawnf6 white pawng6 white pawnh6 white pawni6 white pawnj6 white pawnk6 white pawnl6 white pawnm6n6o6p66
5a5b5c5d5e5 white rookf5 white knightg5 white bishoph5 white queeni5 white kingj5 white bishopk5 white knightl5 white rookm5n5o5p55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h4i4j4k4l4m4n4o4p44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h3i3j3k3l3m3n3o3p33
2a2b2c2d2e2f2g2h2i2j2k2l2m2n2o2p22
1a1b1c1d1e1f1g1h1i1j1k1l1m1n1o1p11
abcdefghijklmnop
16-piece initial setup, using the traditional 8×8 starting position but positioning it in the middle of the board. This makes it impossible for the kings to achieve safety, shortening the game that would already be shortened from Chess on a Really Big Board by the lower number of pieces.

abcdefghijklmnop
16a16 black rookb16 black knightc16 black bishopd16 black queene16 black kingf16 black bishopg16 black knighth16 black rooki16 black rookj16 black knightk16 black bishopl16 black queenm16 black kingn16 black bishopo16 black knightp16 black rook16
15a15 black rookb15 black knightc15 black bishopd15 black queene15 black kingf15 black bishopg15 black knighth15 black rooki15 black rookj15 black knightk15 black bishopl15 black queenm15 black kingn15 black bishopo15 black knightp15 black rook15
14a14 black pawnb14 black pawnc14 black pawnd14 black pawne14 black pawnf14 black pawng14 black pawnh14 black pawni14 black pawnj14 black pawnk14 black pawnl14 black pawnm14 black pawnn14 black pawno14 black pawnp14 black pawn14
13a13 black pawnb13 black pawnc13 black pawnd13 black pawne13 black pawnf13 black pawng13 black pawnh13 black pawni13 black pawnj13 black pawnk13 black pawnl13 black pawnm13 black pawnn13 black pawno13 black pawnp13 black pawn13
12a12b12c12d12e12f12g12h12i12j12k12l12m12n12o12p1212
11a11b11c11d11e11f11g11h11i11j11k11l11m11n11o11p1111
10a10b10c10d10e10f10g10h10i10j10k10l10m10n10o10p1010
9a9b9c9d9e9f9g9h9i9j9k9l9m9n9o9p99
8a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h8i8j8k8l8m8n8o8p88
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h7i7j7k7l7m7n7o7p77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h6i6j6k6l6m6n6o6p66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h5i5j5k5l5m5n5o5p55
4a4 white pawnb4 white pawnc4 white pawnd4 white pawne4 white pawnf4 white pawng4 white pawnh4 white pawni4 white pawnj4 white pawnk4 white pawnl4 white pawnm4 white pawnn4 white pawno4 white pawnp4 white pawn4
3a3 white pawnb3 white pawnc3 white pawnd3 white pawne3 white pawnf3 white pawng3 white pawnh3 white pawni3 white pawnj3 white pawnk3 white pawnl3 white pawnm3 white pawnn3 white pawno3 white pawnp3 white pawn3
2a2 white rookb2 white knightc2 white bishopd2 white queene2 white kingf2 white bishopg2 white knighth2 white rooki2 white rookj2 white knightk2 white bishopl2 white queenm2 white kingn2 white bishopo2 white knightp2 white rook2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rooki1 white rookj1 white knightk1 white bishopl1 white queenm1 white kingn1 white bishopo1 white knightp1 white rook1
abcdefghijklmnop
64-piece initial setup, simply repeating the orthodox setup four times. This has the problem that each player has four kings, doubled rooks on the central files, and doubled pawns on each file. Betza did suggest that it could be practical to put the kings on i2 and i15, put weak pieces on the third ranks, pawns on the fourth ranks, and fill the remainder with other pieces. This would have the initial position occupy half the board, just like in orthodox chess, and unlike how it is in Four Board Chess (one quarter) or Nine Board Chess (one sixth). Betza did not go further with this possibility, stating: "although I think it is probably playable, the huge mass of pieces seems too heavy for my taste."

Unrealised suggestions

Betza also suggested "Four Board Great Chess", which would have more pieces than the rose that could not make their full moves on smaller boards, and having pawns on the third rank and about 24 pieces in the two rows behind them; and similarly, "Four Board Great Shatranj", where the pieces would be weakened further. Another suggestion of his was Four Board Chess with different armies, suggesting that one player could use knights and the other could use fibnifs (fbNF; moves forward or backward as knight, or as ferz in all directions), though noting that creating completely new armies was not possible in 1996 as the values of long-range pieces on 16×16 boards were not yet known to much precision. However, none were developed beyond ideas.[1]

A further variant Betza considered is "Sixty-Four Board Chess", which would be played on a 64×64 board with 4096 squares (the same as 16×16×16 chess). Betza's comment was:[1]

A chessboard of chessboards! You must use very small chessboards and sets, and you must have very long arms. You must also have a long time to play!

I can enjoy this game more by just thinking about it than I could by actually trying to play it...

— Ralph Betza

Similarly, he considered a 64×64×64 3D variant, which he put forward as a possible world record for the largest chess variant (having 262144 cubes), although he did not completely specify the rules, beyond stating that the standard opening setup for orthodox chess would simply be repeated to fill the 64×64 boards.[3]

No special equipment required, except for a high ceiling and a very strong floor in the room where you do this.

I suppose you might need very long arms to move the pieces, and a telescope to see the enemy King, it's so far away.
— Ralph Betza

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Chess on a Really Big Board at The Chess Variant Pages
  2. ↑ Pritchard, D. B. (2007). "Chess on Four Boards". In Beasley, John. The Classified Encyclopedia of Chess Variants. John Beasley. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-9555168-0-1.
  3. 1 2 3 4 3D Chess on a Really Big Board at The Chess Variant Pages
  4. 1 2 3 4 Golden Age Chess on a Really Big Board at The Chess Variant Pages
  5. ↑ http://play.chessvariants.com/pbm/play.php?game=Chess%2520on%2520a%2520Really%2520Big%2520Board&log=avunjahei-cvgameroom-2015-108-767&movenum=20&submit=View&orientation=auto&scale=70&render=jpg&shape=square&set=alfaerie-many&colors=CCCCCC+FFFFFF
  6. ↑ http://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/1432/kbn-vs-k-checkmate-on-nonstandard-boards?rq=1
  7. ↑ Endgame statistics with fantasy pieces by Dave McCooey, The Chess Variant Pages
  8. ↑ Ideal Values and Practical Values (Part 6) by Ralph Betza, The Chess Variant Pages
  9. ↑ The FD by Ralph Betza, The Chess Variant Pages
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