![]() | King
A King moves one space in any of the 26 directions, but never to a square where it can be captured. |
![]() | Queen
A Queen moves any number of squares in a straight line. It may not leap over other pieces. |
![]() | Rook
A Rook slides along a rank, file, or vertical column. |
![]() | Knight
A Knight leaps two in one direction, and one in a perpendicular direction. |
![]() | Unicorn
A Unicorn slides along 3-dimensional diagonals. |
![]() | Bishop
A Bishop slides along 2-dimensional diagonals (those directions in which exactly two coordinates are variable). |
![]() | Pawn
A Pawn, when not capturing, steps in one of the two `forward` orthogonal directions. Captures by stepping in a 2-D diagonal, of which exactly one component is one of the forward directions. Upon reaching the opponent's edge of the cube, pawns promote. |
DescriptionThe Raumschach board is a cube, five spaces on a side. The pieces and opening setup are quite similar to Chess.Rook: slides along a rank, file, or vertical column. Bishop: slides along 2-dimensional diagonals (those directions in which exactly two coordinates are variable). Unicorn: slides along 3-dimensional diagonals. King: moves one space in any of the 26 directions. Knight: leaps two in one direction, and one in a perpendicular direction. Pawn: When not capturing, steps in one of the two `forward` orthogonal directions. Captures by stepping in a 2-D diagonal, of which exactly one component is one of the forward directions. Upon reaching the opponent's edge of the cube, pawns promote. There is no pawn double-step, no en passant, and no castling. Win is by checkmate; stalemate is a draw. HistoryRaumschach (translation: Space Chess) is one of the very first three dimensional chess variants, and the first such variant of which the rules have survived till present times. It was invented by the German Dr. Ferdinand Maack in 1907. Maack first proposed a variant of size 8 by 8 by 8, but after experimentation found that a size 5 by 5 by 5 yields a nicer game. The game was popular in the first half of the twentieth century. There was a Space Chess club in Hamburg, founded by Maack in 1919, which existed until the Second World War.This ZoG rules file by Robert Price, January 2000. StrategyYou're on your own with this one.More information on Raumschach can be found at http://www.chessvariants.com/3d.dir/3d5.html. |