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Description

Bigger than bigger ! This is a Chess variant with 24 different pieces on a 16 x 16 board, an unrealistic summum.

They are 256 cases and 64 pieces per side which gives the same density than for Orthodox Chess.

In Terachess one will find again 20 kinds of men encountered in Shako , Tamerlane 2000, Metamachy and Gigachess. The 4 newcomers are the Star (Cannon+Bow), the Rhinoceros, a sort of Eagle's counterpart, the Bull, a long leaper whose move exists in Korean Chess and the Antelope, an original leaper.

Rules

Initial setup

The board is a 16 x 16 checkered squares with a white one at the right end of each player.

There are 64 pieces per side:

The white King is placed on the center of the third row on a black square, the black King being on a white square. The Queen lays beside the King. The Eagle is just behind the King, and the Lion is beside the Queen. They are the only major pieces on the second raw, the rest being populated by the Corporals. On the 1st row, the Amazon is in the back line of the King and commands a side with Marshall and Cardinal. On the opposite side, there is the Star on Queen side with Rhinoceros and Buffalo.

Pieces

King

Exactly as in usual Chess.

Queen

Exactly as in usual Chess.

Bishop

Exactly as in usual Chess.

Knight

Moves as in usual Chess. In addition, when a Knight reaches the last row it promotes to a Buffalo.

Rook

Exactly as in usual Chess.

Pawn

The Pawn is almost similar to usual Chess. There is a difference: it can advance one or two square from ANY position on the board. However, its capturing move is unchanged: one square diagonally forward. As a consequence, the en-passant capture is possible every time the opposite Pawn or Corporal or Prince has advanced two squares. When the Pawn reaches the last row it promotes to a Queen.

Corporal

An extended Pawn. He can advance one or two square from any position on the board and its capturing move is one square diagonally forward. The improvement is that the Corporal can also advance 1 step diagonally forward. (So, with or without capturing). The Corporal can take en-passant every time an opposite Pawn or Corporal or Prince has advanced two squares. Promotes to Queen on last row.

Prince

This piece is simply a non-royal King combined with a Pawn. It can be found in Metamachy and has been inspired by medieval games like the Courier chess , an old chess variant, played in Germany, where it is called "Man". It moves one square in an arbitrary direction, like the King, but without being hindered by check. Here, like the Pawn, he can move without capturing to the second square straight ahead. When the Prince reaches the last row it promotes to an Amazon.

Elephant

As in Shako. In this game, when the Elephant reaches the last row it promotes to a Lion.

Machine

It is an orthogonal counterpart of the Elephant as it moves 1 or 2 cases orthogonally, jumping over the first case if it is occupied. Then, it combines the moves of old Dabbaba and Wazir found in ancient Muslim Chess variants. In this game, when the Machine reaches the last row it promotes to a Lion.

Lion

As in Metamachy, inspired (although with some simplification) by Chu Shogi, the most popular variant of the Japanese Chess. Here the Lion may move as a King (a single step move in any direction), or it may jump to a position two squares away, jumping in any orthogonal or diagonal direction, or alternatively jumping as a Knight in usual Chess. (Then this Lion has the same range but is more restricted than the Lion in Chu Shogi which can move two times in a turn).

Eagle

As in Metamachy, moves one square diagonally and then, goes away of an indefinite number of cases vertically or horizontally. It is authorized to go only one square diagonal. It can not jump and the unobstructed path must start with the diagonal movement. This piece is almost as powerful as the Queen and is inspired by the Giraffe from Tamerlane's Chess and the Aanca from Alfonso X's Grande Acedrex.

Ship

Originally invented for Tamerlane 2000, it moves one square diagonally and then, goes away of an indefinite number of cases vertically, never horizontally. It can move one square diagonally only. It can not jump and must begin its move with the diagonal step. The Ship is more limited than the Eagle (which can move horizontally). Nevertheless its move power is comparable to the Rook and the Bishop. When the Ship reaches the last row it promotes to an Eagle.

Camel

As in Metamachy, a well known piece from medieval Muslim great Chess like Tamerlane's Chess. It jumps to the opposite case of a 2x4 rectangle, like an extended Knight. No matter what intermediate cases contain. Note that it always stays on the same color of square. When a Camel reaches the last row it promotes to a Buffalo.

Cannon

As in Xiangqi, in Shako and in Metamachy. (Also known as Pao by problemists).

Bow

It is the diagonal counterpart of the Chinese Cannon. It moves like a Bishop and needs an intermediate piece between itself and its victim to capture it. The Bow jumps the intermediate and takes the victim on its square. The intermediate is left unaffected. (Also known as Vao by problemists).

Buffalo

Combines the leaps of the Knight (3x2), the Camel (4x2) and the Bull (see Terachess) (4x3).

Marshall

It combines the move of Rook and Knight. It can be found in many, many chess variants since Carrera, Bird, Capablanca and many others like Grand Chess or Gothic Chess. (under many other names: Champion, Guard, Empress, Concubine, Chancellor, etc. The later is sometimes preferred, however it is confusing since Capablanca used it once for R+N and once for B+N. It is an Elephant in Seirawan Chess).

Cardinal

It combines the move of Bishop and Knight. It can be found in many, many chess variants since Carrera, Bird, Capablanca, Modern and many others like Grand Chess or Gothic Chess. (under many other names: Centaur, Minister, Equerry, Janus, Archbishop, Princess, Chancellor, etc. It is a Hawk in Seirawan Chess).

Amazon

Strongest piece on the board, it combines the move of Queen and Knight. It was used in the Turkish-Indian Grand Chess (as a Giraffe).

Bull

Jumps to the opposite case of a 3x4 rectangle, like an extended Knight. No matter what intermediate cases contain. Note that it always changes the same color of its square. The same move is found in Janggi, Korean Chess, for the Elephant. Under the name of Zebra, it is also a fairy piece used by problemists for compositions. When a Bull reaches the last row it promotes to a Buffalo.

Antelope

Jumps 2 or 3 step orthogonally or diagonally. No matter what intermediate squares contain. This is an original piece, exclusive to this game. When an Antelope reaches the last row it promotes to a Star.

Rhinoceros

Jumps as a Knight then slides diagonally away. This piece is inspired by the Unicorn of mediaeval Grande Acedrex.

Star

It moves like a Queen and needs an intermediate piece between itself and its victim to capture it. The Star jumps the intermediate and takes the victim on its square. The intermediate is left unaffected. Like the Queen is Bishop + Rook, the Star is Cannon + Bow.

Promotions table

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Credits

Jocly implementation