Chess with a New Look
Three-dimensional chess is now being played in New York on eight superimposed boards. For this it has been found necessary to invent additional types of chessmen, with greater powers than those of the traditional pieces. Competitors were asked to name and describe the appear- ance and capabilities of two such extra pieces of their own invention.
in their heads a clear picture of those eight superimposed boards, or knew why it was necessary to invent those extra overriding Pieces: indeed, come to think of it, 1 am not sure that [ could explain myself, but we can let that pass. My own suggestions would have been a Secretary-General, for high- level co-ordination; an Air-Mershal, heli- copter-borne from board to board; a Sky- scraper, capable of a castle's move on all eight boards at once; and a Bureaucrat—but We all know what he is for, and he was the only one of the four who appeared in the entries submitted. The competition produced many new names (life-long chess-addicts, no doubt), also shy confessions from two of our old 'regulars,' whom I had always thought More or less omniscient, that they knew nothing about chess. (R. Kennard Davis Was not among them, and we have yet to catch him out over any aspect of life ancient or modern, but one day perhaps. . . .) asked for two pieces on purpose, because competitors often hit it off once, but rarely Manage a double; and with these thoughts in mind I would like the prize divided equally between D. R. Peddy and I. A. Gordon, who writes from New Zealand— really our air mails are wonderful. Their entries are followed below by some of the singletons I liked best.
PRIZES
(D. R. PEDDY)
OFFICIALS are shaped like very high wing- collars. They move only in circles (ever- decreasing). After removal from the first board (known as 'retirement') they become additional knights, and thereafter go from Board to Board without possibility of removal.
GENERALS are shaped like Brass-hats. The first, or 'Five-Star' General may move without .warning into any of the other seven boards. It IS capable of breaking 'Checkmate,' but can cause dangerous situations for its own side unless removed by its King (or President as Presumably known under American rules). rile second or 'Red,' General can assume any Position where a solution can thereby be Prevented, but always proceeds by what is known as the 'Double-Cross' move. Each General may be captured by opposing General or by its own King (or President).
(I. A. GORDON)
, THE BOOMERANG: Very powerful in the open- !ng game. Use therefore limited to one move 'n five. Moves like a rook for five squares ; FaPtures; moves similarly (but at right angles, ni any plane); captures; continuing in same Plane it executes two further similar moves, ten it is now on its original square. (A aree-piece capture is termed a 'Woomera.') , THE KANGAROO: Captures on the fifth square, leaning over intervening squares and pieces. 11 may move in any direction in any plane but 1,1114y not change direction once the leap is `milun. Capturing power confined to pieces of ,Palue less than its own (i.e., pawns and bishops). quipped with a pouch for their temporary rf Posit. If the Kangaroo is captured by a `,night, the deposited pawns are returned to P'sy in their initial position. A Queen captur- I am not sure that all competitors carried ing a laden Kangaroo frees her Bishop in
addition ('Liberty play').
COMMENDED 'ONE-MOVERS'
THE BOFFIN: A colourless hollow sphere, motivated by an eccentric mechanism over which neither player has the remotest control. Its function is the indiscriminate destruction of all pieces, and due to its indeterminate appear- ance it is frequently impossible to decide whose Boffin is destroying• whose pieces. (J. P. O'Donovan.) THE BUREAUCRAT! A stylised teapot with bow of tape on lid. Is allowed double time for any move, but can only move backwards in any one plane except when taking a pawn. Can also make no move at all, although counting as a move, the theory being that it has described a complete circle and returned to starting-point.
Has special powers for stopping moves by other pieces. (Douglas Hawson.)
THE JESTER: For the form a stylised repre- sentation (with permission) of the features of Sir A. P. Herbert, possibly cocking a snook. (N. Hodgson.) THE ORATOR: Somewhat like the Bishop in appearance, stands on a small platform. It moves obliquely across the board, and on capturing a piece wins it over to its-own side. (Mrs. V. R. Ormerod.) THE VETO: Design based on a Kremlin turret. Its main power is prohibitive. If a player sees danger from his opponent's last move, he moves his Veto and says 'N-yet.' His opponent must at once return his attacking piece to its original position. (Goodwill.)
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