Final Wars - Beta
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Oct 11, 2017
0
#21
Oct 11, 2017
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#23
Oct 15, 2017
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#25
Reflection
The board reflects on the vertical axis.
Each file on the left hand side of the board reflects with another file that is located on the right hand side of the board.
In the diagram above you can see that the 2 central files reflect with one another and that the 2 outer files reflect with one another.
The black line drawn down the middle of the diagram is like a book spine and each of the 4 files on both sides are like a page in a book.
When the book is closed each square on the board matches, or reflects, with another square.
D4 reflects with E4
A1 reflects with H1
2 squares that reflect with one another are always located on the same rank.
2 squares that reflect with one another are always opposite colours, one square is white, the other is black.
Note that the starting position of the Kings is always random.
The White King, for example, can start on either central file, D1 or E1.
You could also say that the White King, for example, can start on either side of the vertical axis that has been drawn on the above diagram.
Oct 15, 2017
0
#26
The differing starting positions of the king, that’s kind of like the starting position in chaturanga, right? Only you have three possibilities: Either both kings are on the d-file, both kings are on the e-file, or one king is on the d-file, the other on the e-file.
I like that - going back to the roots, not straying from the path.
Oct 15, 2017
0
#29
@Ebinola
Aye, well spotted man, that is exactly what it is.
For much of the history of chess, for more than one thousand years, the Kings did not face each other in the starting position.
This was actually due to the ancient Queens, they were "colour bound" as they only moved one step on the diagonal.
The Kings did not face each other at the start so that the ancient Queens could meet somewhere on the board during the game.
Note that all the ancient forms of chess are not exactly the same, the exact placement of the King and ancient Queen varies quite a bit.
Thai Makruk, which is still very popular in Thailand, has an asymmetrical starting position.
Please note that in Final Wars there are FOUR random possible starting positions.
Each player could say flip a coin:
Heads = King on white central square.
Tails = King on black central square.
Oct 15, 2017
0
#32
King Side
The starting positions of the Kings and Queens is random for every game.
The White King can start on either side of the vertical black line drawn in the above 2 diagrams.
The Black King also starts on either side of the vertical black line but the Black King has been excluded from the above 2 diagrams.
In Final Wars there are FOUR random possible starting positions.
2 of the possible random starting positions are symmetrical, the Kings are on the same file.
2 of the possible random starting positions are asymmetrical, the Kings are not on the same file.
The White King, and the White King only, is used as the point of reference to determine which side of the board is called the King Side for any particular game.
The Black King is not considered at all and this is the reason why it has been excluded from the above 2 diagrams.
From Whites perspective the King Side is variable, it can be to his left or to his right depending on the placement of the White King.
In the first diagram the King Side is the 4 files from A to D.
In the second diagram the King Side is the 4 files from E to H.
Oct 16, 2017
0
#36
King Side
The above 2 diagrams show opening positions that reflect with one another, they are mirror images.
If the same opening system can now be played on both sides of the board then it is also necessary that the King Side can now be either side of the board otherwise terminology, in both writing and discussion, would not be the same for both of the above games.
Note that 2 reflected positions do not need to have the same move order, transposition is possible.
Oct 17, 2017
0
#39
King Transfers
A King Transfer can be played once during the game by each player.
In the above diagram it can be seen that:
The King always lands one square away from the edge of the board.
The Rook then swings around and is placed right next to the King.
The starting position of the King is always random, the King can start on either side of the vertical black line drawn on the above diagram.
The final position of the King after a King Transfer however is symmetrical, it is always one square away from the edge of the board.
Note that this symmetry, on both sides of the board, fits with the overall concept of reflection, that both sides of the board reflect with one another.
Note that with this symmetry, the only variable that a player has to consider for a King Transfer is the number of pieces between the King and the Rook, this can be either 2 pieces or 3 pieces.
Note that it is called a King Transfer to avoid any possible confusion, the final position of the King after a King transfer, on both sides of the board, is not the same as with castling in chess.
Oct 17, 2017
0
#40
King Transfer Notation
In Final Wars the notation for a King Transfer is similar to chess but it does not have the same meaning.
Short Transfer. The King was moved 2 squares: O-O
Long Transfer. The King was moved 3 squares: O-O-O
Note that the notation does not mean King Side or Queen Side.