Chess Variation - Capture the Flag

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Avatar of domodo1

At the beginning of a the game, a flag icon spawns randomly somewhere between the 3rd and 6th ranks.
If a piece/pawn moves to the square the flag is on, the flag is 'captured', and moves along with the capturing piece from then on.
If another piece takes a piece which currently has the flag, the flag becomes captured by the taking piece.
The goal is to finish the game with the flag in your possession.
It might seem pretty straight forward, but it's surprisingly difficult to keep a piece possessing the flag safe, as it puts a "bounty" on it, changing the entire rhythm of the game (because the target of each player keeps shifting, instead of being constant - the king).
It doesn't matter whether black wins, white wins or it's a draw, as long as one player possesses the flag.

If the king captures the flag, it's an automatic win for the player, but putting your own king in check is still illegal.

If the game is completed without anyone capturing the flag (though it's not likely), the game is declared a draw.

If you find the idea interesting, please consider adding it to the chess Variations, or contacting us under this post/through this email address: tomersewell@gmail.com

Thanks so much!

Avatar of zisal2029

The safe zone should be customizable so it may be harder to reach even by amazon.

Avatar of domodo1

That's a good point, but since the flag spawns in a random square, and the pieces start in their standard position, there's no guarantee as to who's going to get there first. Also, trying to get to the flag first with you queen, and also trying to keep the queen safe, might compromise your position, in a way which makes it harder to keep the flag in your possession.

Avatar of zisal2029
zisal2029 wrote:

The safe zone should be customizable so it may be harder to reach even by amazon.

I’m wondering if it is possible to bring this rule to custom variants, too.

Avatar of domodo1
zisal2029 wrote:

The safe zone should be customizable so it may be harder to reach even by amazon.

Although it might make it more like a real capture the flag game, there aren't any safe zones.

And the goal is to have the flag in your possesion by the end of the game, so even if you get it quickly, it doesn't matter that much.

Avatar of domodo1
HungryOval wrote:

Could you end the game by resigning? This would award a win to the player in possession of the flag, which probably is you.

no, if you resign you lose.

Avatar of ThatWongGuy
domodo1 wrote:
HungryOval wrote:

Could you end the game by resigning? This would award a win to the player in possession of the flag, which probably is you.

no, if you resign you lose.

I believe he meant that the resign button would become the "claim win" button that appears in points gamemodes. However, this would make the game progress too fast, so I would agree to not add it.

Avatar of domodo1

i should say that if you run out of time or resign you lose the game and your rating.

no mater who has the flag.

Avatar of domodo1

in this variation if you resien you lose the game it does not matter who currently has the flag.

Avatar of Lucas1009991

This idea is bad, Randomness shouldn’t be in any chess variant

Avatar of Lucas1009991

the only randomness that exists in standard chess is: 1: who is your opponent?

2: you will play with the white or black pieces?

Avatar of Peril108

It could be like a WOF

Avatar of AaronSmile

What if the flag is never captured during the whole game?