Chessplus
Chessplus is a chess variant developed by the Australia-based family business Chessplus Team.[1]
| Publishers | Chessplus Team |
|---|---|
| Years active | c. 21st century to present |
| Genres | Board game Abstract strategy game Mind sport Chess variant |
| Players | 2 |
| Playing time | Similar to that of chess |
| Chance | None |
| Skills | Strategy, tactics |
Appearance
Chessplus, as a physical variant, can come in 1 of 3 packages.
- A bag of the pieces.
- A box featuring a pawn and knight combining.
- A pseudo-box with a wrap-around board and pieces.
As for the pieces themself, they are designed specifically for merging.[2]
Gameplay
Chessplus gameplay is similar to that of regular chess, but pieces can merge. The only piece that can't be merged with is the king.[3] Pieces can only merge with other pieces of their own color. Only 2 pieces can be merged at a time. Pieces may split, in which they use their original move to un-merge.
| First Piece | Second Piece | Combination Name |
|---|---|---|
| Queen | Queen | DQueen |
| Queen | Bishop | Quishop |
| Queen | Knight | Quight |
| Queen | Rook | Quook |
| Queen | Pawn | Quawn |
| Bishop | Knight | Bight |
| Bishop | Bishop | DBishop |
| Bishop | Rook | Biook |
| Bishop | Pawn | Biawn |
| Knight | Knight | DKnight |
| Knight | Rook | Knook |
| Knight | Pawn | Knawn |
| Pawn | Pawn | DPawn |
Castling
Castling may be done with a combined rook. Just like in regular chess, the rook must not have previously moved. In other words, if a knight moved to combine with a rook, castling is possible, but if that rook moved to combine with the knight, then castling is no longer allowed for that rook.
En passant
Similar to the castling rules, en passant can only be used on a combination of 2 pawns. If the combination is, say, a bishop and a pawn, en passant is not allowed.
Inspiration
It was inspired by an illegal move made by the leader's daughter, who, at age 8, during a chess match with her father, merged a rook with a pawn, then promoted the piece to a queen.[5]
References
- Noone, Richard (18 May 2017). "Coastie conjures new form of the ancient game of chess". Daily Telegraph (Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate). Retrieved 18 Aug 2023.
- The board game itself
- "The Meeple Guild - ChessPlus fun twist to classic favourite". SaskToday.ca. 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- "How to Play - Chessplus".
- "Our Story - Chessplus".
During a game of Chess with her dad the young Aimee (aged 8) did something not so legal. With a cheeky smile Aimee moved her rook onto the square of a pawn. Her dad looked on puzzled and made a traditional Chess move. With her next move Aimee took both the rook and the pawn to the far side of the board and proudly announced 'I get a queen, I'm going to beat you!' Her dad laughed, then he reflected on her actions and Chessplus was born.