Check out Balbo's Chess, our featured variant for October, 2024.

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

Rebel Chess

By Chris Schumacher

Rebel Chess I (plain version)

The King's Pawn is replaced by a piece known as a Recruiter. The Recruiter (U) moves as the Alfil did (a leap of exactly two squares diagonally), with one notable exception: it is incapable of capturing or checking. When a Recruiter gets into a position where it can capture a piece, it can, instead of moving, change the piece to its own side! This counts as the owning player's move for that turn.

The Recruiter cannot convert a King, Queen, or other Recruiter. Pawns may not promote to Recruiters. A recruited piece can be returned to original by the other Recruiter. All others rules are the same as Orthodox Chess. 









   +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
8  | r |:n:| b |:q:| k |:b:| n |:r:|
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
7  |:p:| p |:p:| p |:u:| p |:p:| p |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
6  |   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
5  |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
4  |   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
3  |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
2  | P |:P:| P |:P:| U |:P:| P |:P:|
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
1  |:R:| N |:B:| Q |:K:| B |:N:| R |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
     a   b   c   d   e   f   g   h

Rebel Chess II (exponential)

Same rules as Rebel Chess I, but with one obvious exception. Every recruited piece gains the ability to recruit. When they are in a position to capture a piece, they have the choice of either capturing the piece or recruiting it. A recruited Bishop or Rook, unlike a Recruiter, is capable of recruiting a Queen. Recruited pieces are incapable of recruiting back their traitorous comrades. They also cannot recruit a Recruiter.

Rebel Chess III (exponentional: conversionmate type)

If the checkmate of one King involves only converted pieces attacking the King, the King is converted instead of captured. The object of the game then becomes to checkmate both Kings, or return at least one of them to your side and check the other. The Spartan Team's (called thus because Sparta had two Kings) objective is to completely wipe out the other team. The Rebel Team can concede at any time.

Equipment

This game can be played with a standard Western Chess set and some sort of marker for converted pieces. This is best accomplished by having each player keep a small collection of sticky labels (like the sort one uses on test tubes) to designate which captured piece belongs to which side). Don't forget to remove them when pieces are captured.

The game may be somewhat easier to play using two Chess sets, and replacing converted pieces with pieces of the new color from the other set. For Rebel Chess II and III the two sets should be of differing size or design.

Written by Chris Schumacher.
WWW page created: November 2the, 2002.