The present avatar for Un-Orthodox CHESS is the Ferz(F), a very old piece found in some early chess variants, such as Tamerlane and Shatranj. This now unorthodox piece was considered standard until the modern moves of the queen and bishop were developed.
Originally called mantri (Sanskrit for "minister" or "counsellor"), it was later translated by the Persians to farzin, meaning "counsellor" or "wise man". In the Arab world it was known as the firz, and, in Medieval Europe ferz. Its name later changed to the queen, but when that name started being used for the modern chess queen, its former name ferz or fers began to be used in chess problems.
The Ferz is a colorbound piece (limited to only half of the board) that moves one square diagonally. By itself it is worth about half a knight. Three ferzes and a king can force checkmate on a bare king (assuming that all three ferzes are not on the same color); two ferzes and a king can force stalemate on a bare king, but not easily. The endgame of rook versus Ferz is a win for the rook.
The present avatar for Un-Orthodox CHESS is the Ferz(F), a very old piece found in some early chess variants, such as Tamerlane and Shatranj. This now unorthodox piece was considered standard until the modern moves of the queen and bishop were developed.
Originally called mantri (Sanskrit for "minister" or "counsellor"), it was later translated by the Persians to farzin, meaning "counsellor" or "wise man". In the Arab world it was known as the firz, and, in Medieval Europe ferz. Its name later changed to the queen, but when that name started being used for the modern chess queen, its former name ferz or fers began to be used in chess problems.
The Ferz is a colorbound piece (limited to only half of the board) that moves one square diagonally. By itself it is worth about half a knight. Three ferzes and a king can force checkmate on a bare king (assuming that all three ferzes are not on the same color); two ferzes and a king can force stalemate on a bare king, but not easily. The endgame of rook versus Ferz is a win for the rook.
For more information on the Ferz(F):
Ferz: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferz_(chess)
Fairy chess piece(or unorthodox chess piece): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_chess_piece
Shatranj(chess variant): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatranj
Tamerlane (chess variant): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamerlane_chess