Suicide Void Chess

by Robert Atkinson

Introduction

The rules for this variant are the same as Suicide Chess (or Giveaway Chess) with the following exceptions:

The game starts with the Black player placing an object on any one unoccupied square. Then White moves first as normal. This object (we usually use a quarter) represents a void in the board. No piece can land on the void square. After any piece is captured, the player that made the capture must move the piece representing the void to a different unoccupied square. 

Setup

Pieces

The King plays no special role in the game, and can be taken as any other piece. There is no check or checkmate.

Pawns may also promote to Kings.

Only a Knight may move over the void square. 

An object, such as a coin, is used to represent the void square.

Rules

Basic Suicide Chess rules:

• The opening setup is as in standard Chess. 
• All pieces move as in standard Chess, with the following exceptions.
• The King plays no special role in the game, and can be taken as any other piece. There is no check or checkmate.
• Castling is not allowed.
• Pawns may also promote to Kings.
• Capturing is compulsory. 
• When a player can capture, but has different choices to capture a piece, he may choose which piece to capture.
• The first player to loose all his pieces wins.
• In the case of stalemate, whichever player has fewer pieces left wins. If both have the same number, the game is drawn. The type of pieces makes no difference.

Special rules for this variant:

• The game starts with the Black player placing an object on any unoccupied square. This object (we usually use a coin) represents a void. 
• Then White moves first as normal. 
• No piece can land on the void square. 
• Only a Knight may move over the void square. 
• After any piece is captured, the player that made the capture must move the piece representing the void to a different unoccupied square. 
• There can be an additional winning condition. If a pawn reaches the promoting rank that is an immediate victory. The only exception is if the pawn captures the enemy's LAST piece on the 1st or 8th rank, the capture occurs before the promotion. This additional variation increases the complexity of the game's strategy.

Notes

The special rules seem to add a lot of variation to Suicide Chess and make the game remarkably unpredictable. 

Playing Tips

Both sides have the ability to recover based on proper void placement.

Equipment

Standard Chess equipment.