[Black's Turn 1] Chess, but the board gets cut.

It is currently Black's Turn. (3 days left)

I was going to play a variant with someone, but it’s been multiple weeks now and there’s been almost no updates on when it will start. So, I’m making another one here to direct while I wait for theirs to begin.

Cut Chess is a real Chess variant. All normal rules are followed, except for the fact that once an outer rank or file of the board becomes completely void of pieces, it gets “cut”, and is permanently removed from the board. But, the board cannot decrease in size below 4 x 4. Since only the outer ranks will be affected, the four inner ranks that are already void of pieces won’t be affected, at least not right away. 
In order to sign up to play this variant, please respond to this post telling me that you’d like to do so, along with a color preference if you have one.

I’m using the same regulation rules as before, and as everyone else. 3 days per move. (While moving faster is not required, it is very heavily encouraged.)

Will the board shrink? Or will the players keep it at its original size for as long as they can? Which is the best strategy? Let’s find out.

(If you would like to make your pieces a certain custom color other than white or black, I might be able to make that work, but you definitely aren’t required to use a custom color if you don’t want to.)

Players

@CunioXYZ - Playing Black (No color preference)

@evert823 - Playing White (No color preference)

I used this video for reference: How to play Cut Chess

Can I play? I'm not really good at chess, so keep that in mind. I dont have a color preference.

Of course you can! Thanks for signing up! And don’t worry about your skill, everyone is welcome!

Thanks! How will the game be executed?

Good question! The game will be executed similar to a Daily Game. The entire game will happen on this forum thread. I will send the board through an image, and each player will send their move through a forum reply. After a move, I will send the new board again, and then the other person will make a move, and we will repeat that until the game ends. Each person does have 3 days per move, but moving faster is fine and highly encouraged. I am just using the regulation rules that I’ve seen everyone else use.

The goal is the same as regular chess, to capture pieces and checkmate your opponent.

If you have any questions about the rules, you can always just ask!

Nice, count me in

Thanks for joining! I’m excited to see how this will turn out!

The game will be starting soon! I will privately message both of you when the game starts!

Since neither player has a color preference, I will assign the colors White and Black randomly. While they are not posted yet, you may want to refer back to the first post soon in order to see your assigned color.

Since neither player had a color preference, colors have been assigned at random! You can see them on the first forum post, or here!

Players

@CunioXYZ - Playing Black

@evert823 - Playing White

Get ready… The game will be starting very soon!

If you haven’t done so, you may want to watch the below video in order to gain a deeper understanding of how the rules of this variant work, as it is what I will be using for the game.

The game has begun! I'm really excited to see how this will turn out!

The time control is 3 days per move, but moving faster is absolutely fine and very highly encouraged.

White (@evert823) will move first. Please send your move when you are ready!

Cut Chess: Once an outermost row or column becomes completely empty, it is removed from the board.

e4

@evert823 plays e4! A classic opening move! Let's see what opening Black will agree to!

@CunioXYZ, it is now your turn, and your clock has started. What's your first move of the entire game?

Cut Chess: Once an outermost row or column becomes completely empty, it is removed from the board.