Comments by TonyQuintanilla

On this note, could I suggest something in the interest of quality? How
about playing games in Game Courier from time to time whose purpose would
not be primarily competitive but more like chess study. I mean, play a
game with an opponent but encourage Kibbitz comments during the game, not
concerned that the players will be influenced. In fact, a free discussion
of the game would be encouraged and be reflected in play of the game. The
benefit would not be so much winning the game (unless friendly 'teams'
emerge, like competing philosophies) as gaining more insight into the
game's mechanics, strategy, flaws, aesthetics, etc. 

Chess analysis is common, but chess variants analysis is not because the
games come and go and there is not much opportunity to go back and analyze
them. I would even go so far as to suggest that computer advise could be
used to inform the Kibbitzing, something like what I believe Kasparov
suggested for human-computer competition after being crushed by Big Blue!

Regarding open kibbitzing, it would certainly be nice to get top-level
players, but why wait? I ranked somewhere in the middle of the recent Game
Courier tournament, but I would be willing to start an invitation against
another brave soul! Any takers? Any game suggestion? We have Grand Chess
from Mark, I believe.

I agree with Antoine that it would be very nice to revive Invent-and-Play.
Believe it or not I am still playing 3 games from the original
Invent-and-Play rounds 1 and 2! The games are ongoing by e-mail. The
rounds, however, will not be concluded officially, it does not seem. 

Invent-and-Play by Game Courier with liberal time limits (say 6 months
total time per player, no bonuses, = 1 year) and limited open kibbitzing
(open after 5 turns), like Antoine suggests, would be interesting. 

We also need a new moderator. Anyone?

External constraints, like the variant design contests, can certaily spur
creativity, sometimes more than complete freedom.

The games are starting! One question: should kibbitzing allow comments that
are based on computer analysis, such as Zillions of Games or Chess V? I
would be inclined to say, yes, as long as that is made clear.

Larry,

Interesting ideas. I think that these options are certainly viable
variants. The one that is most intriguing is that of promotion on the far
rank, since it goes with the overall theme.

Larry, 

You got me! This is what could be called the 'Zillions Effect.' I
usually design my games in Zillions first and then write the article. I
initially wanted to have the game work like you suggest, but I could not
think of an easy way to program it. 

Instead, I created a special random-moving (?)neutral pin piece that
toggles through a special move direction from an 8x8 corner to a single
10x10 corner to a single 12x12 corner and back to the 8x8 corner. The pin
makes a random, but unidirectional, move automatically before White. Each
piece has to verify the location of the pin piece before moving into the
corresponding board area. The corner pin is also a visual reminder for the
players. Simple. 

However, I could not think of a move direction that reverses from the
12x12 corner back to 10x10 back to 8x8, or another simple method to move
the pin in a reversing way! 

So, I decided to abandon the reversing rule in the interest of programming
simplicity!! Oh scandal, to let computer considerations determine the rules
of chess! Ok -- I'm not a purist. I'll post the ZRF soon.

Doug,

Thanks for the suggestion.