Chess variant from 1893
In 1893, ANNA MARRIOTT WATSON patented a game that, in her opinion, was supposed to be better and more interesting than chess. She called this game "Straits".
I will give excerpts from this patent. The full text can be found here:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US498702A/en
"To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, ANNE MARRIOTT WATSON, gentlewoman, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at ParkinsLand, Eastleigh, Southampton, in the county of Hants, England, have invented a new or improved game, of which the following is a specification.
This invention relates to a new or improved game to be played by two persons; and to the apparatus for use therefor. The said game partakes of the nature of a naval engagement - the pieces being representations of different vessels of war, and the object of the players being to gain possession of a certain position by a certain piece.
In playing the game the pieces of each player are arranged in given order, the flagship being surrounded by all the other pieces. Certain definite moves are given to each piece, and each may be taken by the pieces of the other player, excepting the flagship which cannot be taken, but, like the king in chess, must not remain in, or move into, check.
The object of each player is to get his flagship upon the center square of the board, when he is supposed to have gained the command of the straits.
Four varieties of pieces are used of which each player has an equal number. These are one flag-ship, as shown at Fig. 2; seven turret-ships, as shown at Fig. 3; eight torpedo-boats, as shown at Fig. 5, and three gunboats, as shown at Fig. 4.
The moves assigned to each piece are as follows:
Flagship (Fig.2) This is the most important piece on the board. It moves forward, backward, sideways or diagonally any number of squares (like a queen in chess) and captures in the same way, but it cannot be captured and must not remain in or move in check.
The turret-ship (Fig. 3.) The turret-ship moves any distance, forward, backward, or sideways, but not diagonally, (like the rook in chess)...
The torpedo boat (Fig. 5.) The torpedo-boat moves and takes diagonally only, (like the bishop in chess.)...
The gun-boat (Fig. 4) The gun-boat moves one square at a time in any direction, but takes only diagonally.
As before stated it is the object of each player to place his flag-ship upon the center square of the board, when he is supposed to have obtained command of the straits and won the game. He may also win the game by checkmating (according to the rules of chess) the flag-ship of his opponent."
So, let's translate all this into our familiar chess language.
The following pieces are used in the game: Queen, Bishops, Rooks and Pawns.
The initial arrangement on the 11x9 board looks like this:
Squares marked with black circles are not part of the board.
The queen is the most important piece in the game. Moves and captures like a normal chess queen. However, this piece must avoid check like a king in standard chess.
The rook moves and captures like a rook in standard chess.
The bishop moves and captures like a bishop in standard chess.
The pawn moves in all directions like a king in standard chess, but captures only diagonally.
To win the game, it is enough to deliver your queen to the central square e6 or checkmate it like a king in standard chess.
Thus we have a very interesting and very unusual variant of chess.
How we see the concept 'Bring your King to the center to win the game' was implemented long before the King of the Hill chess variant appeared. Considering that the main piece in the game, endowed with the properties of a queen, can be mated like a king in chess, makes this chess variant unique.
The game is straightforward, but obviously has enough potential. Complications that arise during the game will give lovers to rack their brains over solving problems a lot of pleasure.
