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This page is written by the game's inventor, Janevert Kaan.

Fair-Chess

Having been interested in chess for two decades now, i designed a 
chess variant  in which opening knowledge is not important anymore. 
And to make it a more Fair game between players of different playing 
ability, a devised a handicap system which will make playing more 
fun for both sides, both the weaker and the stronger player. 
It will result in longer games, more practice in middle game 
and endgames, and will be  much more fun. 
Such a 'handicap'  method is common in e.g. the (physical) game of golf, the board  game Go, but it has never been worked out properly for Chess. 
Until NOW .. !
And it will have great educational value, playing will be much more fun
for beginners, children, and so on; also advanced players will like it
because it requires less memorization of opening theory and will lead
to longer games, with more practice of the endgame.  It is based on the old idea that the stronger player can play with a penalty, by missing a pawn, a certain piece, or a combination thereof. NB this new game Fairy-Chess should not to be confused with  'Fair*y*-chess' which is a completely  different kind of chess  (puzzle)game.  Our new game of *Fair*-*Chess*  will be  completely similar to normal chess, except with a 'status'  rating system instead of 'Elo'. Besides that, later so-called  randomized 'Fischer-random' setups could be added as additional option), but then also with pawn or piece handicaps depending on rating differences between B & W of-course...

Setup

If two players  (playing over the board, or theoretically also online possibly via server) have equal chess ability  (which will be reflected in their 'status' e.g. pawn, knight, and so on)  then the White player will have one pawn less in the  initial setup (to compensate for the white advantage). And if the (old)rating  is e.g.  100 rating points different, or one 'pawn'in status) then the Black  player may have one pawn less in the initial setup.  For the rest an estimated rating difference  is in the used in setup the initial positions with less material for the better player, with about seven different choices (rating difference from 100 to about 800)!! At higher levels of play (higher ratings, or longer time controls), the indicated rating differences for the various handicap setups in this game become bigger. So whereas a knight less is possible for
a player with about 150 higher rating against a beginner, at 
advanced level (A rating players, or about 1850), this would 
correspond to a rating difference of maybe 400 or 500. So we envisage
a more advanced rating algorithm in future versions (non-zillions version).
In such a way the game can also be used on chess servers (or
via I-phone or android apps or so)  whereby the stronger player 
will be rewarded after the normal rating calculation for having 
playing with a certain penalty, thus keeping his original 
higher rating.  Just liked to name this  game after normal 
chess, but with additions, making it a more equal/social/fair 
game for players at different playing and make it possible 
to have more enjoyment in chess when  playing between 
opponents of different playing strength (normally if a
beginner plays against a strong chess player, he almost always
will lose the game) . Thus it indeed becomes a more 'fair' game
because in some ways it can't be considered very fair if a 
player who has more knowledge of a game, but isn't much smarter, 
always wins such a game.  It also in  such a way can be used on chess  
servers, whereby  the stronger player will be rewarded after the  
normal rating  calculation for having playing with a certain penalty, 
thus keeping his original higher rating.

Pieces

Same as in normal chess, except that the stronger side
will be missing one or more pawns, and/or a piece.

Rules

The same , that is, identical as in normal chess. Except
a different board setup at the start.

Playing Strategy: same as in normal chess; however when the opponent
is missing lots of pawns, or a pawn tactics can be totally different, 
and there will be opportunities for king attacks. Tip: if you are
a lot weaker, and your opponent is missing a piece: try to
exchange lots of pieces, and achieve a winning endgame; at least 
you will get lots of opportunities for endgame practice!

Notes

The idea behind this game will be clear when playing,
there now are two versions, home player or club-player.
With the zillions engine estimated between 1900 or 2000
the human player can quickly set the subvariant
needed, and then use the game 'Fair-chess' as
a training tool for 'normal' chess.


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By Janevert Kaan.
Web page created: 2014-08-13. Web page last updated: 2014-08-13