Constable Chess
introducing the Constable
The Constable moves like a
nightrider, that is, it can make continuous knight-moves in the same direction.
But it cannot capture in this way. Instead it captures like a queen. Its value,
it seems, corresponds to rook + knight. Other rules are the same as in standard
chess, except for the possible promotion to Constable. The nightrider moves
gives it an extreme mobility in congested middlegame positions. As it combines
mobility with the power of the queen capture, it is ideal for king-attacks in
the middlegame. You can often sacrifice a light piece, à la
The
unusual H-shaped board makes it possible to introduce this piece without giving
it undue advantage in the opening, thus avoiding monotonous opening strategies.
The extra corner squares (the trenches) are exactly what the majesty has always
asked for. The notorious problem of the weak first rank, and the sudden rook
mate, is thereby solved. The trenches affect the strategy greatly. Boards which
introduce four extra diagonal squares are generally not recommendable,
because then the king cannot be mated by a rook. Constable chess, and the new
Constable piece, were invented by undersigned, August 2006.
constable [comes stabuli, lit., officer of the stable] a
: high officer of a medieval royal or noble household b : the warden or
governor of a royal castle or a fortified town c : a public officer
usually of a town or township responsible for keeping the peace and for minor
judicial duties.
The Constable moves as a nightrider,
but
captures queenwise.
 You
can download my free Constable Chess program
here, (updated
2007-10-18) but you must own the software
Zillions of Games to be able to
run it (I recommend the download version). Don't miss my other
chess variants. |
© M. Winther (August 2006).
