NCV: Captive Kings

Initial position:

The setup is exactly like in standard chess except that the Kings will switch their places.

Purpose:

The ultimate purpose for White is to bring his King to the first rank without getting checkmated and Black will try to bring his King to the eighth rank without getting checkmated.

General rules:

1.    The Kings will not be under a check in the initial position for being on the enemy side. (for example, in the initial position it shall be deemed that the Queen on d1 is not checking the King on e1)

2.    The respective Kings shall not make a first move which is a capture in any part of the game.

(in the given case Kxd1 or Kxf2 is not permitted if it is the Black King’s first move)

3.   The King’s first move shall be to a square which is not under a check.

4.   Once the King has made its first move, it shall be free to capture any piece/pawn that is undefended.

5.   Only after the King has made its first move the opponent shall be allowed to check/checkmate the King.

6.  The Kings shall never be permitted to be placed on squares immediately next to each other as in standard chess.

7.    Castling (kingside/queenside) is permitted. For example White moves his Rook to f1 and the King to g1. This will be considered as White’s move although he places the Black King on g1. This is possible only if the Rook has not been previously moved by White and the King by Black. It shall be deemed that Black has not yet made a King move through White’s castling.

Note:

The variant can also be tried using any of the chess960 positions

There is no bar in making any first move. Say, one can play 1. e4 or d4 or Nf3 etc. Its just that you as white (in this example) cannot play Kxf8 or Kxf7 or Kxe7 or Kxd7 or Kxd8 not only in the first move but also in any part of the game. In simple, the King is prohibited from making a first move that is a capture. Also the King cannot move into a square that is under a check in any part of the game. And once the King makes its first legal move (that is non capture move plus a move to an unchecked square), it is vulnerable to check and checkmate. Until its first move, the King is like a frozen piece on e1 and e8 squares.