CheskersRules

Cheskers is a chess variant combining chess and checkers. It was invented by Solomon W. Golomb in 1948.

Setup

Cheskers is played on only the dark squares of a standard chessboard, with additional pieces.

Each player requires two kings, a bishop, a camel (may be represented by a rook or queen) and eight pawns. Here is the initial setup:

• White: Kings c1, e1; Bishop a1; Camel g1; Pawns a3, b2, c3, d2, e3, f2, g3, h2
• Black: Kings d8, f8; Bishop h8; Camel b8; Pawns a7, b6, c7, d6, e7, f6, g7, h6

Movement and capturing

Black moves first, after which players alternate moves.

Pawns move as pieces in checkers: They move, without taking, one square diagonally forward, but take by jumping two squares diagonally forward over an enemy piece to an empty square, thereby removing the enemy piece. When a pawn can take, it is obligatory to make a capture, either with a pawn or with another piece; when there is a choice, the player can choose with which type of piece he takes. Also, as in checkers, a pawn can (and, when possible, must) take more pieces in one turn: When after a first taking of an opponent piece, the pawn can make another jump over an enemy piece, the player continues with such a taking move, until no such move is possible. When there is a choice between a move where a single piece is taken and one where multiple pieces are taken, the player must make a move with multiple captures. Reaching the last row of the board always ends a pawn's move, and the pawn can promote to king, bishop or camel.

A king moves as a promoted checkers piece: This is the same type of move as a pawn in this game, but now the king can move and take also diagonally backwards. When a player can capture with a king, a capturing move is also obligatory.

The bishop moves and takes exactly as in normal chess.

The camel has a kind of extended knights move: It goes one diagonal and two straight. With this move, he can jump over other pieces (as a knight jumps), but the camel takes by moving to the square occupied by the enemy piece. When a player can only capture with a bishop or a camel, it is not obligatory to capture.

Winning

A player wins either by capturing both opposing kings or when his opponent is stalemated (cannot move).