Colours
The colour of the pieces used in the Explorer follow the standard colourblind set as provided by the 4pc server. You can still refer to players by the colours as standardised by Chess.com, but formal entries will primarily refer to players by their player numbers as follows:
Player 1 = Red / Violet
Player 2 = Blue / Dark Blue
Player 3 = Yellow / Bright Yellow
Player 4 = Green / Turquoise
In Team games the terms Team 1-3 and Team 2-4 are used to refer to the teams that are otherwise known as Team R/Y and Team B/G. This is also done to avoid the informalities associated with colour indication methods. You can of course still use colour indication descriptive terms when commenting on positions within the Explorer. Formal entries (such as the description of traps) however, will use terminology and notation that is non-colour biased.
Non-colour bias is a position taken for formal entries within the Explorer out of consideration for:
- Those who use colours alternate to the standard as set by Chess.com.
- The 4 player chess community that exists outside of Chess.com.
- The colourblind.
- The non-english speaking world.
If you have any suggestions as to how we can better address the issue of colour bias in notation and other areas of 4pc conceptualisation, then feel free to suggest it in the 4pc University or message me directly.
Notation
You can still use the colour indication method for commenting on positions within the Explorer. Formal entries however will be made using Algebracket notation.
Algebracket Notation
Algebracket is a 4pc notation method that enables users to describe continuations using simple notational descriptive methods. It can be used to indicate which player has made a specific move and also enable the description of numerous lines leading to similar results. Algebracket notation does not depend on the colour of the pieces used by any particular group or person nor does it depend on any particular language.
Indicating a Moving Player with Algebracket Notation
To indicate a player move in Algebracket notation, consider the move being made and add 0, 1, 2 or 3 hyphens before the move (but after the ply/round number) to indicate which player is making the move.
Player 1 (Red) would not require any hyphens as they go first, Player 2 (Blue) would only need 1 hyphen, Player 3 (Yellow) would need 2 and Player 4 (Green) would need 3. The hyphens work similar to how the elipsis (...) works in 2 player chess representing White's missing move...
Example:
1. h3
1. - c7
1. - - g12
1. - - - l8
Other functions of the Algebracket Method
When describing move sequences of potential continuations it can be useful to describe many moves that lead to the same outcome. As a result, the following can be used to describe particular scenarios (where "XX" refers to some arbitrary unimportant move):
(XX, XX)
"This-or-That" brackets. In this continuation either "This" or "That" move is played in order to lead to the particular continuation (usually because the outcome of the sequence is inevitably the same).
[XX, XX]
Conditional brackets. Usually followed by another set of conditional brackets. If the first move within the first set of conditional brackets is played, then the first move within the second set of conditional brackets is played; if the second move within the first set of conditional brackets is played then the second move within the second set of conditional brackets is played... and so on. This-or-That brackets can be placed within Conditional brackets depending on the circumstances.
@
The @ symbol is used to refer to "Any Move". This can be useful when referring to a move that isn't of any particular importance because a continuation (such as describing a checkmate) does not depend much on this particular players move.
(/XX, XX)
"Any-move-except-for" brackets. Any move, except for the moves in these brackets, can be played.
Algebracket Examples
Fool's Mate:
1. (h3, h4) @ (g12, g11) (l7, k7)
2. Qxn8+ (/Qg13, Qh14, Bh13) Bm7 #
This says that is Player 1 (Red) plays the move h3 or h4 on their first move, Player 3 (Yellow) plays g12 or g11 and Player 4 (Green) plays l7 or k7... then Fool's mate is achieved on round/ply 2 after Player 1 captures on the n8 square with Qxn8+ and Player 3 checkmates with Bm7. This can only be achieved if player 2 does not deliver a check on Player 3 with the moves Qg13, Qh14 or Bh13.
"The Blue Monday Blunders" (Name to be determined and verified):
1. [h3, h4] [d8, (c8, d8)]
This says that if Player 1 plays h3 and Player 2 plays d8 OR if Player 1 plays h3 and Player 2 plays c8 or d8 then a Blue Monday blunder is achieved. It described any one of the three following sequences:
1. h3 d8
1. h4 c8
1. h4 d8
4PC University
The Opening Explorer is run in association with the 4PC University, a place you can study, analyze your games, make puzzles and discuss conventions related to 4 player chess. It is currently in the middle of a revamping process at the moment and needs a fair bit of work to it, but do check it out if it interests you and keep on the lookout for future updates. Click here check out the 4PC University.
Welcome to the Opening Explorer.
Here you can explore Opening positions and see what other 4pc aficianados have to say about them. Feel free to comment, ask questions and post your own games for any position.
At present, we are only operating for Team Openings, but hopefully in the future we will be able to operate with more theory behind FFA and Solo positions.
Note: You may want to go into your club settings and turn off your new forum topic notifications for a while (there are likely to be many more entries produced over time even for trivial positions).
To begin exploring in Team Openings, click here:
Teams Opening Explorer
For discussing and debating name ideas (including issues pertaining to naming rights), click here:
Naming Discussion
To Discuss the discovery of New openings or to suggest adding lines to the explorer, click here:
Discovery Channel
For Feedback and Suggestions to the Explorer:
Feedback & Suggestions
To alert the admins to something really important or you would like to apply to volunteer within the Explorer (by producing entries or asserting your right to vote on the name's of trivial openings) click here:
The Admin Thread
Rules