M Winther wrote on Sat, Apr 18, 2009 11:22 AM UTC:
Thanks for this. One factor which is very important in the Guanaco and the
Alpaca is that they become quite strong in endgames with pawns. They can
rather easily attack a pawn chain while they can move to an adjacent square
of a different colour, and hop over pawns. To attack an enemy pawn chain
could be impossible for a bishop of the wrong colour, and be somewhat
difficult for a knight, while it has to maneuvre many moves. I found that
Zillions has difficulties handling the Guanaco in the beginning while it
demands planning. You must maeuvre it in order to use it, so it's not the
ideal piece for computers. Therefore one cannot expect that the replacement
test will work very well. The Guanaco is very strong in the endgame, and
two Guanacos plus king seem able to checkmate an enemy king (needs to be
verified). If this is true then two Alpacas would also be able, together
with the king, to give mate. The Llama has fewer capture squares than the
Alpaca. Only on the inner 6x6 square it has four capture squares. So I
suppose it's worth somewhat less. On the other hand it can threaten at a
two square distance. Notice also that the Guanaco *slides* on the squares
on which it stands. In a sense, it is an orthogonal bishop.
/Mats