Shamanic Chess

introducing the shaman piece

The objective is to checkmate the opponent's king. Normal chess rules apply. However, a piece (except pawn and king) can turn into a "shaman" (that is, go into a "spiritual trance-state") and travel directly to any empty square on the board. However, in the shamanic state the piece cannot interact with other pieces, that is, cannot make captures. A shaman can (and must) move directly to another empty square after having been transformed, however, in order to leave the shamanic state and become a normal piece again the player must use up a move on the spot. A shaman can only transform himself to the type of piece he was before. The shaman is only mobile directly after its transformation. Hence it becomes immobile on the square where it has landed. So the only option is, later, to transform it to a normal piece again.

There is also an additional variant of Shamanic Chess where the shamans are allowed to move about freely.

Discussion

Don't overestimate the shamans in the early phase of the game. They are of better use later. Remember that shamans, although extremely mobile, are weak pieces while they become immobile after they have landed (except in the variant with free-moving shamans). Even the enemy king can step up to the queen-shaman and capture it. Early queen excursions are not as bad as in regular chess as the queen can always avoid being trapped by turning into a shaman and escape. Remember that when a check is given a piece cannot transform to shaman and go between (because this consists really of two moves).

The shaman in traditional societies had the ability to travel vast distances in the spiritual sphere. This is reflected in the new shaman piece. It is appropriate that the piece cannot interact with "material reality" while he exists in his "trance-state." The shaman is very good for defensive purposes also, e.g., stepping between when the king is attacked. This is not only a tactical piece, it's good also for positional purposes. In regular chess you sometimes resort to wishful thinking: "If I only could reach that square with the knight, then everything would be resolved!" Now you can reach that square.

It's easy to play this game on a regular chessboard. One can use markers of some type, a "shaman's hat," and fasten them on the pieces. It costs a move to remove the hat. Shamanic Chess was invented by undersigned January 2006.

(Don't miss my other chess variants.)

You can download my free 'Shamanic Chess' program here, (updated 2006-05-18) but you must own the software Zillions of Games to be able to run it.

© M. Winther (January 2006).