S–Chess is the short name for Seirawan Chess, the new and exciting chess variant invented by Grandmaster and former junior world champion, Yasser Seirawan and Canadian National Master, Bruce Harper.  Yes, I know, there have been lots of hybrid chess offshoots involving larger boards and other dramatic alterations to the basic rules of the game, but Seirawan chess begins with the standard setup on an 8x8 board enabling a player new to the game to get off to a running start. As its eponymous co-creator points out, unlike FischerRandom, Seirawan Chess retains the beautiful and comfortable symmetry of the normal game.

         At some time during the opening phase two new pieces, a hawk, which flies around the board combining the moves of a knight and a bishop, and an elephant, whose moves are a combination of those of a rook and knight, may enter the game on the same square and on the same move as it is vacated by another piece. You have only to recall those rare and exciting games involving multiple queens to appreciate the complexity and excitement caused by the introduction of these new men.

         Another, not inconsiderable, benefit of Seirawan’s and Harper’s brainstorm is that the emphasis is on creativity because S-Chess is not fettered by databases and it’s immune from the assistance of the frighteningly strong chess programs that exert such a heavy influence on the regular game.

         A pair of hawks and a couple of elephants can be purchased from The House of Staunton, whose site also features a video of GM Seirawan relating the provenance and mechanics of the game, but you can simply use pieces from a different set to stand in for the commercially made pieces to get started on your first S-Chess game.  Once you do you will get a glimpse into how Greco and Ponziani must have felt during their seminal explorations into what became the modern game of Chess. 

         Finally, a note on the name of the game: Yasser Seirawan, as self-effacing and modest a grandmaster as you will find (as is evident in his introductory videos) is a little uncomfortable with the designation Seirawan Chess. This is probably because there is no reference to the game’s co-creator Bruce Harper. S-Chess has a nice ring to it and will do until someone has a better idea.

         Here are some sites to get you started with S-Chess:

Introduction on youtube.com by the man who invented the variant:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nht2TqabPr0

S-chess Homepage:

http://www.seirawanchess.com/

S-chess page on chessvariants.org:

http://www.chessvariants.org/index/external.php?itemid=seirawanchess

After exploring these, please feel free to join us at the ‘Seirawan Chess Fans” group. Unfortunately, we are not supported by an interactive board, but you can try playing against the group members by sending your moves via e-mail or dropping your opponent notes.

Regarding the name of this great new variant.

The name SHARPER Chess (a combination of the names Seirawan and Harper) has been suggested.

I know seirawan i read his chess books!

I've played S-Chess a few times (I got the pieces from House of Staunton).  It's a riot!  Too bad you can't play online (as far as I know anyway).

maybe a way to get an interactive board is to create one using vasal or cyberboard

I just downloaded these for Asian chess variations and they seem like a good choice to make a board for the S-chess fan group

name idea for S-chess....Tusks and Talons chess or short T-N-T chess...an explosive game!!!

The advantages (no databases, computer programs) only exist because of its relative unpopularity. It would be (relatively) simple to adapt current programs to be able to play S-Chess; furthermore, if and when it gets played very much, opening theory will develop for the game, just as it has with chess.

The 8x8 board seems too small for the concentration of power the new pieces provide. The positive thing is that method of introducing new pieces doesn't hurt the Knight's value.

we need this implemented on chess.com as an alternative game type pronto

I couldn't agree more.

I'd definitely play it online. 

awesome....can't wait to try out this variant on an interactive board!! my guess is that it's amazingly complex,and it would take years to develop a proper opening theory..

the problem with chess960 is that the starting positions are really awkward,it's hard to coordinate pieces....and perhaps these issues are resolved in S-chess.

with all due respect to Seirawan (I've read his books winning chess tactics/strategy,they're pretty good) and Harper,I'd like for Capablanca to be given some credit too,as it was his idea to introduce these extra pieces. (Capa chess)